The Japanese otter is a species of otter that used to live in Japan. Some also believe it to be a subspecies of the Eurasian otter. The Japanese otter's body is specialized for life in water. For example, in order to retain body temperature underwater, they have two layers of fur, with the outer coarse fur keeping the inner fine fur from getting wet. That high-quality fur was being traded for a high price, so poaching led to a reduction of their population. They used to be widespread in Japan, but since the beginning of the Meiji period poaching for their fur and the pollution of the lakes and rivers due to industrialization have caused their numbers to decline rapidly. With the last confirmed sighting being in the 1970s in Shikoku, it is currently believed to be extinct... However there have been several supposed sightings since, so there is a possibility that they are still extant.