A slightly different perspective on this re-edited one. This time hoping to share it more extensively.

Thanks as ever for your comments.

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The giant otter (pteronura brasiliensis), a resident of South America, mainly along the Amazon and Pantanal wetlands, is the largest of the weasel family of mammals; its total length measures 1.7m. Although it can be aggressive when it comes to defending its territory, it is a peaceful and sociable species, living in closely knit family groups. Of all the otters, it is the most vocal and has over twenty sounds which they use to communicate with each other.

Its exceptionally dense fur, wing-like tail, and webbed feet, make it ideally suited to an amphibious lifestyle. Generally, it prefers freshwater rivers and streams, which are usually seasonally flooded, where it feeds on a variety of fish, particularly characins and catfish, as well as crabs, small snakes and small caiman. It's main predators are leopards and caiman.

Globally wildlife is under series threat, and the giant otter is no exception. Decades of hunting for its velvety pelt, and above all, disturbance and loss of its habit, has placed this mammal on the endangered list, with less than 5,000 pairs in the wild.

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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS AND FAVS........ PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT MY PHOTOSTREAM, FOR GENERAL PHOTOS OF NATURE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM OF WILDLIFE.

The European badger is a mammal which occurs throughout most of Europe and some parts of the Middle East. They are also known by several other common names, including brock, pate, grey and bawson.

They are powerfully built. Their short, fat bodies and sturdy legs, together with strong, elongated claws, are ideally adapted for digging.

In colonies of 6-20 individuals they live within a network of underground tunnels, called a set or a den. Tunnels may be as long as 1,000 feet and have numerous openings. In each set there is a central chamber where they sleep and care for their young.

They tend to be nocturnal, and at night travel throughout their territory, in seach for food, which included earthworms, slugs, insects, small mammals and reptiles, as well as fruit, cereal and grass.

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The brown hare is native to Europe and parts of Asia, and feeds mainly on grasses in open country.

They are mainly active at night, which is why this one was stretching his hind legs at the end of day, after lounging around, seemingly unaware I was watching from a close distance.

With such long powerful legs they are able to run at great speed, out of harm's way of predators, which include birds of prey, wild cats and dogs.

Many thanks for your comments. Have a great week!

Tags:   Sunrays+5 'Nature through lens' Nature Through The Lens

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The Eurasian lynx is largest of the lynx species.

One of the world's widest ranging cats, these beautiful medium-sized cats are to be found throughout temperate forests of Europe, Russia and central Asia, including the Tibetan Plateau and the Himalayas.

They mostly feed on hoofed mammals such as deer, and stalk their prey from the cover of thick vegetation, before pouncing on victims when they least expected it and delivering a fatal bite to the neck or snout.

Once on the brink of extinction in Europe, in recent times their numbers have increased ten-fold. Hunting and habitat loss nevertheless, still poses a threat to these secretive felines.

Tags:   coth5

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