Lutra lutra

Otter - European otters must eat 15% of their body weight each day. They feed on fish and shelled creatures such as crayfish as seen in one of these images. They can even break open shellfish by using a stone on their stomachs. Otters are active hunters, chasing prey in the water or searching the beds of rivers, lakes or the seas. They are agile swimmers with the ability to hold their breath underwater while hunting. I photographed this one here at Vilamoura reed beds in Portugal

John Foss Nature Photography Birds Wild Flowers Wildlife Butterflies Moths Greaghnafarna Ballinaglera Ireland Leitrim Derby England UK Algarve Portugal