Otter (river otter) - otter (English spelling)

Japanese: カワウソ(獺) - カワウソ（英語表記）otter

An aquatic mammal of the Mustelidae family in the carnivora order. It looks similar to a weasel, but is much larger and more muscular, with a thicker tail. Its body length is 64-82 cm, its tail length 30-50 cm, and it weighs 5.5-17 kg. Its body color is brown, with white hair growing from its chin to its throat and chest. Its five limbs have well-developed webbed spaces between them. Its head is flat, with its nose, eyes, and ears on nearly the same plane, and when it raises its head out of the water, all three of its organs are above the water at the same time, making it well suited to an aquatic life. It is found in North Africa, Europe, and most of Asia.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

食肉目イタチ科の水生哺乳類。姿はイタチに似るが，体がずっと大きく筋肉質で，尾が太い。体長64～82cm，尾長30～50cm，体重5.5～17kg。体色は茶褐色，あごからのど，胸にかけては白い毛が生える。四肢の5本の指の間には水かきが発達する。頭は扁平で，鼻，目，耳がほぼ同一平面上につき，水中から頭を出すとこれら三つの器官を同時に水上に出せるなど，水生生活に適した体のつくりを備えている。北アフリカ，ヨーロッパ，アジアの大部分に分布する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Kawauchi [town] - Kawauchi

>>: River fish cuisine - Kawauoryori