Call Sign

Another giant river otter from Peru. This is more of the "classic" (or cliched, depending on how you look at it) image I was hoping to get of this species, since the neck patterns differentiate it from most other otters.

I had two previous attempts with giant otters on this trip, and either the light was coming in from the wrong direction or the otters didn't pop too far out of the water. So on my final day I hiked back out to the lake a few kilometers from our lodge in hopes of finally getting a decent view.

Giant otter neck patterns are unique to each individual. Similar to the patterns and spotting on whale flukes, this allows scientists to track and differentiate individual animals in a group.

Canon 7D
Canon 500mm f/4 IS + 1.4x TC
ISO 500
1/640th
f/5.6
Tripod, in a canoe
No bananas

Max