Giant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassMammalia (Mamífers)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnívors)
- FamilyMustelidae (Mustelids)
- GenusPteronura (Giant Otters)
- SpeciesPteronura brasiliensis (Giant Otter)
The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, reaching up to 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in). Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. The groups are centered on a dominant breeding pair and are extremely cohesive and cooperative. Although generally peaceful, the species is territorial, and aggression has been observed between groups. The giant otter is diurnal, being active exclusively during daylight hours. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Otter sighting in Manu National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Manu National Park
Tayra
Eira barbara
Neotropical Otter
Lontra longicaudis
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
South American Coati
Nasua nasua
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
Mountain Lion
Puma concolor
Andean Bear
Tremarctos ornatus
Jaguarundi
Puma yagouaroundi
Kinkajou
Potos flavus
Beddard's Olingo
Bassaricyon alleni
Bush Dog
Speothos venaticus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 2 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 3 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 4 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 5 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 6 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 7 | Anavilhanas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 8 | Noel Kempff Mercado National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 9 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 10 | Iberá National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Giant Otter in Manu National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Otter sighting in Manu National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Giant Otter in Manu National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Giant Otter in Manu National Park in our monthly data.