Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox)
Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox)
The Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox) possesses both features of a shrew and an otter. The face is flat with stiff whiskers and a muscular tail. You can find it in the aquatic environments of Central and East Africa. It is nocturnal and carnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic animals. Its fleshy muzzle is flat and broad, while the eyes and ears are small. The giant otter shrew has a thick round body covered in coarse guard hairs, while the tail is in a silky coat of fur. The legs are short but not webbed. It is a strong swimmer and is solitary, only meeting during mating with females giving birth to young live ones.
The Giant Otter Shrew has a body length in the range of 10.6”-13.8” (27-35 cm) and total weight of .88-1.72 lb (400-780 g). The Giant Otter Shrew has a rough standing height between 3.3”-4.3” (8.5-11 cm), body width of 2.75”-3.7” (7-9.5 cm), and tail length of 9.1”-11.4” (23-29 cm). The typical lifespan of the Giant Otter Shrew is between 3-5 years.
The Giant Otter Shrew (Potamogale velox) possesses both features of a shrew and an otter. The face is flat with stiff whiskers and a muscular tail. You can find it in the aquatic environments of Central and East Africa. It is nocturnal and carnivorous, feeding mainly on aquatic animals. Its fleshy muzzle is flat and broad, while the eyes and ears are small. The giant otter shrew has a thick round body covered in coarse guard hairs, while the tail is in a silky coat of fur. The legs are short but not webbed. It is a strong swimmer and is solitary, only meeting during mating with females giving birth to young live ones.
The Giant Otter Shrew has a body length in the range of 10.6”-13.8” (27-35 cm) and total weight of .88-1.72 lb (400-780 g). The Giant Otter Shrew has a rough standing height between 3.3”-4.3” (8.5-11 cm), body width of 2.75”-3.7” (7-9.5 cm), and tail length of 9.1”-11.4” (23-29 cm). The typical lifespan of the Giant Otter Shrew is between 3-5 years.
