poreshnya (Lutra lutra), predatory be mammalianing
seven of kun'ikh; valuable peltry beast. It weighs to 10 kg. Body is flexible, is sinewy,
dl. SV. 70 cm; the tail
long (ok. of 45 cm), which is
thinned toward the end; paws short, fingers are connected by
membranes. It is encountered in Europe, Asia and North -Zap.
To Africa; in THE USSR it is absent only on the extreme
north, in the Crimea and in the deserts. V. rapidly sails and
very well it dives. Fur is not wet by water and retains air.
Osn fodder v. - fish and frog; it sometimes catches
ducklings and water field voles. In winter v. is held near the
ice-holes. In the searches for fish can roam, preodolevaya even
local watersheds. It fades gradually during the spring-summer
season; the best fur - in winter. The burrow, the entrance
into which sometimes is hidden under water, it arranges under the
impending shores. Pregnancy is not less than 8-10 mo.. Once a two years during April - May
v. gives birth to the blind young (more frequent than 3), which it
brings up entire winter. Male does not assume participation in
training of the young. The hunting it in the majority OF THE
USSR regions is forbidden in view of the strong destruction v.. Lit.: S. i. is fire, the beasts
of East Europe and North Asia, Vol. 2, of M. - l., 1931; Mammals
of the Soviet Union, edited by V. g. geptner and V. p. naumova, Vol.
2, h. 1, M., 1967.
