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Oriental Small-clawed Otter


Oriental Small-clawed Otter
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3982 W: 521 N: 8174] (27512)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-08
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS + EF 1.4X II Ex, Digital RAW 400, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-04-26 6:31
Viewed: 790
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The otter (lutrinae) is a carnivorous aquatic or marine mammal part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, polecats, badgers, as well as others. With 13 species in 7 genera, otters have an almost worldwide distribution. The collective noun romp is used to refer to a group of otters.

Physical characteristics Otters have a dense layer (1,000 hairs/mm², 650,000 hairs per sq. in) of very soft underfur which, protected by their outer layer of long guard hairs, keeps them dry under water and traps a layer of air to keep them warm.

All otters have long, slim, streamlined bodies of extraordinary grace and flexibility, and short limbs; in most cases they have webbed paws. Most have sharp claws to grasp prey, but the short-clawed otter of southern Asia has only vestigial claws, and two closely-related species of African otter have no claws at all: these species live in the often muddy rivers of Africa and Asia and locate their prey by touch.

Diet Most otters have fish as the primary item in their diet, supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs; some have become expert at opening shellfish, and others will take any available small mammals or birds. This prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion.
To survive in the cold waters where many otters live, they do not depend on their specialised fur alone: they have very high metabolic rates and burn up energy at a profligate pace: Eurasian otters, for example, must eat 15% of their body-weight a day; sea otters, 20 to 25%, depending on the temperature. In water as warm as 10°C an otter needs to catch 100 g of fish per hour: less than that and it cannot survive. Most species hunt for 3 to 5 hours a day, nursing mothers up to 8 hours a day.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 13:18 p.m.
Date: 8th April 2007
Weather conditions: Clear
Lens: Canon 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM
Extender: Canon EF 1.4X II
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/160
F-Stop: F/4
Focal Length: 280mm
ISO: 400
Original file type: Digital Raw
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Bufo Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 422 W: 71 N: 984] (4241)
  • [2007-04-26 6:47]

Hi Pam, beautiful portrait of this otter. I like the low pov, and that the otter seems totally unaware of you....
BEst wishes, Jacob

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2007-04-26 6:59]

Hi Pam

A lovely shor, with great DOF and set off by a great background colour. The pose is wonderful.

TFS

James

Hi Pam

This is a beautiful shot. Nice composition, sharpness, detail (you can almost see every hair) and DOF. TFS.

Take care

Radhika

Hi Pam,
Beautiful portrait.
Nice presentation.
Well done
TFS
Annick

Hi Pam,
I love these animals. They are always so full of live and the movements are so smooth and fast. You captured him beautifully, with great care of details, DOF and composition. Your OOF BG always seem to amaze me. How do you find the animals in such perfect settings.
TFS,
Niek

Hi Pam,
Great post of this playful looking otter, I think this is a fantastic shot and close-up of this beautiful animal. The DOF is well chosen. :)

Hi Pam,
Excellent zoo portrait..you'd never know you where at a zoo. Great camera work and excellent POV...I'm trying to figure how you got this shot. Was it through the lower viewing window?
cheers
Paul

Hi Pam.
Very nice detail. Parades. Very pure and sharp shot. I really love this pic, great photo. tfs. Stev

Hi Pam.
I am amazed at just how well exposed this is. Every detail is brought out.The lighting is just perfect in my opinion.

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3072 W: 232 N: 5866] (19726)
  • [2007-04-27 3:25]

The sharpness of the details on this otter's face is fantastic.
Wonderful expression with perfect exposure.
He looks very intent.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
  • [2007-04-27 7:46]

Beautiful Otter Pam. Such fine detail and sharpness with a lovely POV.
tfs
debz

ps where did you shoot him?

hi pam!
excellent photo, very sharp and great DOF.
i like it.
tfs
zoran

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