The southern river otter is a species of otter that lives in Chile and Argentina. Although called a "river otter", it inhabits both marine and freshwater environments. It sometimes is considered a subspecies of Lontra canadensis. But what really makes the huillín—also known as the southern river otter, or “river cat”—so tough to come across is not just its aquatic habitat but also the fact that only an estimated 500 huillín remain in Chile and Argentina, according to experts. Southern river otters are medium sized, as far as otters go. They grow to be a little under four feet from nose to tail, and they are dark brown on top with a lighter underside. Southern river otters can live in marine or freshwater habitats. The rare Southern river otter lives in freshwater systems with abundant riparian vegetation. It hunts mainly fish, but also forages for crabs, molluscs and birds. It is found in inland lakes and close to the rocky coastal habitats of Argentina and Chile, never far from a source of freshwater.

Scientific name: Lontra provocax

Conservation status: Endangered (Population decreasing) 

Mass: 17 lbs (Adult) 

Trophic level: Carnivorous 

Length: 1.9 ft. (Adult) 

Kingdom: Animalia