A COMPARISON OF THE DIET AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOUTHERN RIVER OTTER (LUTRA-PROVOCAX) AND MINK (MUSTELA-VISON) IN SOUTHERN CHILE

In Chile, between latitudes 39 degrees S and 43 degrees 30'3, southern river otter (Lutra provocax) and introduced mink (Mustela vison) seat s were collected. Mink sign was recorded in 29% of the aquatic habitat where otter sign was found. Sixty-eight per cent of mink seats were c ollected at otter rest sites. A significant difference between the die ts and low percentage of habitat use overlap of the two species (5-22% ) suggest that, in Chile, river otter and mink coexist with little com petition for space or food. There are no data supporting a relationshi p between the introduction of mink and the decline of southern river o tters.