japanese otter (kemono friends)

A Kemono Friends character. She is one of many "Friends" in Japari Park.

The Japanese Otter (Lutra nippon) is, obviously, the Japanese variant of the Eurasian Otter. The species has been officially considered to be extinct in 2012, the last official sighting being in 1979. However, there has been several unofficial sightings of the animal ever since.

Japanese Otter (The Friend) resembles an orangish-brown haired and costumed Small-Clawed Otter with the main differences aside from color being shorter bangs and a shy demeanor. Considered extinct, she also lacks the shine of her eyes.

News of video sightings on Tsushima Island of an indeterminate otter (either a bonafide Japanese Otter or a migrating Eurasian Otter) in February 2017 lead to some hope for the Japanese Otter. In turn, this sparked a trend to draw her with highlights on her eyes, including producing them at the sight of the actual animal.