NICHE SEPARATION IN 3 SYMPATRIC OTTERS LUTRA-PERSPICILLATA, L-LUTRA AND AONYX-CINEREA IN HUAI-KHA-KHAENG, THAILAND

Three species of otter, Lutra lutra, L. perspicillata and Aonyx cinere a, occur sympatrically in the Huai Kha Khaeng river and tributaries, T hailand. Small differences in their use of major sections of the river are described, as are variations in micro-habitat and in food: L. per spicillata is the most specialized fish eater, taking larger fish than L. lutra which also eats more amphibians, and A. cinerea is a crab sp ecialist. However, on all scores there is a large overlap between the three species, especially between the two Lutra, with some evidence fo r interaction leading to exclusion. Implications for conservation mana gement of the area are discussed.