The front paws of river otters are used for crawling and walking. Sea otters live in large colonies, but river otters tend to stay in small family groups. The pests can grow up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 30 pounds. I, too, assumed that sea + otter = sea otter. Are Otters Dangerous to Humans? They can hold their breath for up to eight minutes. The two types of otter are similar in appearance, both with thick coats and long, muscular tails, and they both have webbed feet. River otters defend their territories by marking, scratching, and occasionally fighting. Their most noticeable ability is swimming. They are well adapted for swimming, with their streamline bodies and valved ears and nose. They must be to get away from predators. Therefore, it would be beneficial to understand the differences between otter and beaver. Giant otters are more social than river otters, but separate groups tend to avoid each other. Clawless otters are relatively social. Like most wildlife, otters may be hostile when confronted. River otters live near rivers and other sources of fresh water. The more diverse river otters live primarily in freshwater rivers and streams, but are also found in coastal saltwater areas. You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters By Deanna Lynch/USFWS Photo: River otter or sea otter? What’s a river otter? Here in New England, it is the largest. It is important that they scent-mark their territory, however. Otters can transmit rabies to humans and pets. Northern River Otters are born with many innate behaviors. There are 13 species of otter in four genera, all of which are relatives of the weasel, but there is only one species of sea otter. Otter and beaver are completely different animals, but with much similar looking appearances. They can do this in several ways. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. Sea otters only exist in oceanic environments. River otters eat a variety of fish and shellfish, as well as small land mammals and birds. Northern river otters not very territorial. They grow to one meter (3 to 4 ft) in length and weigh from five to 15 kilograms (10 to 30 lb). Male river otters ignore females and young through most of the year. Even tough a river otter can be easily confused for a sea otter… River otters will achieve maturity between the ages of two and three, while female sea otters mature between ages three and five, and males even later between ages five and seven. The river otter was once highly prized for their fur during the Fur Trade and they were hunted. A sea otter has hind legs that are similar to paddles because this enables them to live in the ocean. As their name suggests, sea otters live mainly near the sea, spending most of their time in the water. With an adult weight of 15-30 lbs, this is one of the larger members of the weasel family (called mustelids). Sea otters have a faster metabolism than river otters. The otters are very agile in the water. Otters are loosely distributed into two categories: sea otters and river otters. But river otters never got the memo about being river otters. Check out our handy identification cards below and test your otter … But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. The gait of sea otters on land is somewhat clumsy, but river otters can sprint short distances at high speed. The most common of which is “playing”. A sea otter has hind legs that are similar to paddles because this enables them to live in the ocean. The friendly river otter has fur that is not as dense as the sea otter.

Costco Wild Sockeye Salmon Price, What Are Migratory Birds Give One Example, Angry Male Monologues From Published Plays, How To Draw Hawks Bnha, Publisher Of Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, Wombaroo Insectivore Rearing Mix 1kg, Boiling Crab Hawaii Menu Prices, Course Hero To Kill A Mockingbird Chapter 17, Can Rabbits Eat Ground Corn, Black Mirror Season 1 Episode 1, Funny Words For Private Parts, Twas The Night Before Christmas Author, 25 Facts About The Lincoln Memorial, Why Do Cats Sleep Sitting Up, The Being Of The Beautiful, Leslie Nielsen Movies And Tv Shows, The Crime Of Father Amaro Full Movie, New Species Of Lion In Australia, What Rash Did Admiral Halsey Have, La Cage Aux Folles Club, Möbius Strip Cut In Half, Marcella Season 1 Episode 1, Does Diesel Keep Snakes Away, Azerbaijan Tourism Board Official Website, Spiders Of The Turks And Caicos, David And Lisa Film Analysis, How To Slim Down In A Month, How To Draw Farm Animals Step By Step, Spiritual Meaning Of Rabbit Crossing Your Path, Pay It Forward Movie Full, Things To Do In Central New York, Can You Feed Ducks Rice, How Can Hoary Bats Be Protected, Do Moose Swim In The Ocean, Fun Facts About The Geometric Tortoise, How Much Does A Pika Cost, Pumpkin Pie Recipe With Brown Sugar And White Sugar, Sleeping With The Enemy Full Movie, How To Draw A Chicken, Wow Classic In Dreams Failed, The Power Naomi Alderman Themes, You Are An Ox In Need Of A Yoke Meaning, Bible Verses About God The Holy Spirit, Easy To Draw Frankenstein Head, Jacob Sheep For Sale Texas, Skyrim Legendary Edition Nexus Mods, How To Get Rid Of Japanese Beetles, Military Pay Calculator After Taxes, Different Methods Of Data Presentation Pdf, Nat Geo Wild Tv Shows, Pomeranian For Sale Near Me Craigslist, Financial Modelling In Python Source Code, How Long Do Baby Giraffes Nurse,