We have seen hundreds of otter scat in our time on the Frontier Costa Rica Forest (CRF) Research Programme, but we have never seen a scat like this. Have you? Does this egg-like product look familiar? It was found - what appeared to be - in the otter scat. Do you know what this might be? The neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) typically defecates on rocks and logs within the river course or at its edges, with the strong-scented faeces acting as a territory marker at these conspicuous points. As one of it's objectives, the CRF Research Programme is aiming to better understand the environmental factors influencing their site selection. Despite there being an abundance of rocks and logs, the otters can be quite picky, reutilising the best spots time and time again to create well-used latrines. But what it is about the site that makes it so special is what we aim to uncover. Here we are also collecting data on the spatial use of the river network, recording the scat locations throughout the year to investigate whether their core areas of use shift, expand or contract in time as the river changes in depth, width and course. Here at CRF, we love otter scat! If you do too, maybe you can help us identify this oddity. Gracias!

• published: 29 Nov 2013
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