The marine otter lives among rocky shores along the Pacific coast of South America. It has dark brown fur and feeds on fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.
Its fur is dark brown, with a lighter underside.
A study of Marine Otter scat found microparticles at three coastal sites in Peru: Pucusana, Ancon, and Punta Corrientes. Surveys took place in October 2022 and May 2023, and the team identified 69 microparticles in the scat samples.
Fibers made up 88.41% of the particles. Polymer testing identified polypropylene in one tested fiber. Pucusana accounted for 55.07% of particles, Ancon for 23.19%, and Punta Corrientes for 21.74%. The spring survey contained 59.42% of the particles, with black and blue among the most common colors. Plastic debris, including bottles and fishing-related materials, was widespread at all three sites.粒子が見つかった割合は、3地点の間で明確な差がありませんでした。
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Microparticles were found in Marine Otter scat, and solid waste including plastic was recorded at all surveyed sites. The authors call for better waste management and continued monitoring of human-impacted coastal ecosystems.