Diet of the neotropical otter, Lontra longicaudis, in an Atlantic Forest area, Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil

The diet of the neotropical otter (Carnivora, Mustelidae) was studied from September 1995 to March 1997, in Volta Velha, an Atlantic Forest reserve in the coastal plain of Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil. Fecal samples were collected monthly along the rivers Sai-Mirim, Braco do Norte and Volta Velha. Additionally, from October 1996 to June 1997, a qualitative and qua ntitative study of fish species available in the studied rivers was perform ed. The analysis of 202 collected fecal samples indicated a diet based on f ish (mainly Hoplias malabaricus and Geophagus brasiliensis) and crustaceans (mainly Trichodactylus fluviatilis, a river crab), characterizing the neot ropical otter as piscivorous-cancrivorous in the study area. The presence o f fruits, reptiles, birds and mammals in the diet is occasional and opportu nistic. Probably the higher consumption of a certain fish species compared to its availability and the high percentage of occurrence of T. fluviatilis in scats of the neotropical otter reflect their higher catchability.