Lontra annectens Major, 1897

Fonda, Federica, Vezzani, Liam, Mena Aguilar, Luis Ángel, Venegas-Elizondo, Carlos Andrés, Bolaños Brenes, Alexander, Lopez, Dayron Manuel, Romeo, Giuseppe, Sonetti, Dario & Dal Zotto, Matteo, 2025, Mammal diversity and tourism influence in an under-investigated region of Costa Rica, ZooKeys 1260, pp. 37-74 : 37-74

Lontra annectens Major, 1897

Fig. 3 D Northern neotropical river otter

Material examined.

Costa Rica • Puntarenas Province, Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge ; 09°52'11"N, 085°03'31"W; 300 m alt.; 26.02.2018; camera trapping .

Identification.

Medium-sized mustelid. The body is long and slim, the limbs are short, and the tail is long and stout, larger at its base. The fur is all dark brown, slightly paler around the throat and snout ( Wainwright 2007; Beal et al. 2020). Central American populations of neotropical river otter were considered L. longicaudis , but a recent study separated them into a distinct species: the northern neotropical river otter L. annectens ( de Ferran et al. 2024) . Anyway, the neotropical river otter L. longicaudis is listed as Near Threatened at a global scale ( IUCN 2025). Rare in the Wildlife Refuge, recorded mainly in rainy season (May – December) only along rivers and streams running through forested habitats.

Figures

Figure 3. Camera-trapped mammals in the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge. A. Didelphis marsupialis; B. Tamandua mexicana; C. Eira barbara; D. Lontra annectens; E. Puma concolor; F. Leopardus pardalis.