Fruit occurrence in the diet of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest and its implication for seed dispersion

QUADROS, J.; MONTEIRO-FILHO, E.L.A. 2000. Fruit occurrence in the diet of the Neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest and its implication for seed dispersion. Mastozoología Neotropical 7(1):33-36.

Astract.  The Neotropical otter has been described as insectivorous and piscivorous cancrivorous. We registered the presence of fruit remains in the scats of the Neotropical otter and developed an analysis about the occurrence and importance of fruits in its diet. This study was carried out from September 1995 to March 1997 in Reserva Volta Velha, an Atlantic Forest area in south Brazil. Otter scats were collected along rivers, washed, dried and analyzed. Seeds found in scats were identified by comparison with a reference collection and their viability was tested in germination ground plots. Fruit collectors helped studying the availability of these fruit species during seven months. A total of 202 scats were collected but only six (3%) presented fruit remains. Identified seeds from only four scats indicated that otters ate three fruit species:  Marlierea tomentosa (Myrtaceae), Manilkara subsericea (Sapotaceae) and Pouteria lasiocarpa (Rubiaceae). The availability results indicate that all three are abundant fruit species in the study area, specially the former. In the germination experiments all seeds of M. tomentosa germinated (n=16). Considering the daily movement pattern of the Neotropical otter, and the high germination rate of M. tomentosa, it is possible that the Neotropical otter is a seed disperser for this plant species in the study site.