Smooth-coated Otter has wide distribution all over southeast Asia. L. p. perspicillata is the subspecies distributed in India. It is present alll the areas except dry areas. It remains close to water such as wetlands, lakes, seasonal swamps, rivers and also rice fields in some areas. It lives in small-to-medium sized (1 to 11 individuals) groups that are composed of males, females, and pups. Their main diet contains variety of fishes, crustaceans, amphibians and at times rats. In some areas of southern Bangalsdesh, fishermen have tamed some groups of otters for fishing activities.

Conservation Status:

This species is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/).


According to IUCN Red List assessment, population of this species is decreasing all over its range. There are no estimates of its population available, except for its presence/absence records in various regions. Major threat to its survival come from habitat loss due to pollution, residential and commercial activities, agricultural expansion, and mining. over-fishing, poaching for skin, trapping, and pet trade are other major threats.