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English Otters are considered lucky animals in many Native American cultures and the otter is a symbol of loyalty and honesty in some West Coast tribes, but in northern British Columbia and the Alaskan coast, river otters (usually called "land-otters") were associated with ghosts and drowning and were regarded by the people with awe and dread. But around the turn of the 19th century, overhunting and a lack of wildlife management decimated the river otter population in North Carolina’s mountains and Piedmont. River otters are considered as a versatile animal because they can live on land and water. It may seem obvious, but if all else fails—the fastest way to tell what type of otter you’re observing is to examine its environment. Otters have a high metabolic rate, an adaptation for living in an aquatic environment where body heat is rapidly lost. One way that otters can counteract this is by having higher metabolic rates than land mammals of a similar size. They generally forage in the water, but they can also hunt on land. This playful behavior is not only social but teaches otters several survival skills. Some otters are experts at opening shellfish, and others will feed on available small mammals or birds. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. On average, river otters have two to three pups per litter with the pups going off on their own after about six months to a year. River otters are prey for bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators. If you’re on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: it’s a river otter. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it’s a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it’s a sea otter. As they dive underwater, they close their ears and nostrils to keep water out. If you look closely at river otters, you’ll notice that they have short, coarse fur made up of two layers: one for keeping them warm, and another ‘waterproof’ one outside of that. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft). Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. The dens have entrances underwater so that they can be reached from the water. Thus otters both prey on and protect salmon. Watch. River otters are more petite. River otters are not currently threatened, and are pervasive in Canada and the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coastal areas in the US. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. River otter dens are along the water in abandoned burrows or empty hollows. Not to worry, friends. They are notable for their ability to use stones to break open shellfish on their stomachs. Biologydictionary.net Editors. Although otters are most active at nighttime, the footage confirms that this beautiful site does indeed play host to these sought-after creatures and so otter seekers are in with a great chance of catching a glimpse of them, even in the day. The higher metabolic rate means that the river otters must take in more calories, which is why they are regularly eating. Otters spend a lot of time exploring the spraint of others. River otters love to swim face down and their body facing into the water. Bears, armadillos, and seals are just some examples of animals that use this strategy. General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior. River otters spend most of their life inland and only go to the waters to find prey. They are also threatened by habitat loss and pollution that has occurred since European’s colonized North America. This is often supplemented by frogs, crayfish and crabs. This biological strategy is found in several animals, where the embryo will not implant and develop until conditions are favorable. The aquatic mammals have several biological adaptations that have enabled them to inhabit several environments successfully. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. Found in both saltwater and freshwater, a river otter lounges around riverbanks and swims with its belly down, keeping the majority of its body submerged below the water. You've probably seen the image macros floating around Facebook, exclaiming over how they hold hands while they sleep to make sure they don't drift apart. Well, that true. Msg & data rates may apply. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. Giant otter. Periodic messages. Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. Their webbed feet and muscular tail help them to move quickly through the water. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. River otters also have flattened, muscular tails, which make up approximately 40% of the otter’s total body length. They hunt either alone or in pairs. The otter is adapted to exist in the aquatic environment, and to be able to get sustenance from the environment, qualities that we all need in the waking life. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean it’s a sea otter. It is water repellant and thick which keeps the body of river otters insulated and protected. River otters make dens along the water in empty holes or abandoned burrows. They have scent glands at the base of their tail, and they deposit their musky scent on their dung, which is called spraint. Otters mate in the early spring months, but embryos remain dormant and free-floating in the uterus for another eight to nine months before they attach to the uterus and begin to develop. River otters are nocturnal hunters. They are found throughout most of North America – from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. Otters live near lakes or ponds and burrow in ditches, so interaction with people can occur. River otters have a high metabolism, which keeps them warm when they are in the water. (2020, August 19). It also means that an absent friend will return soon. Answered 7 years ago. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. The noises are definitely river otter noises by the sounds and they were actually coming closer and closer, which made me really nervous, as at the time, I didn't even know if they were beavers or otters, but didn't really care. A higher metabolic rate enables them to generate more body heat. Several groups have been set up to try to help conserve natural populations. River otters forage alone or in pairs. This skill must be learned by the young. Otter’s symbolism and meaning reflects the ability to play, and to find renewed joy in your life for balancing out the more stressful or demanding times in life. Edit. This delayed implantation is called embryo diapause and may occur so that the female does not have to raise young during the winter months. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing solutions to save our ocean. River otters have a special coat fur. Each otter’s scent is as unique as a fingerprint and can tell other otters information such as the identity, age, sex, and breeding condition of the otter that left it. Due to their webbed feet and muscular tails, it comes as no surprise that river otters are excellent swimmers. These two different animals have their key differences, but one thing is for sure: they’re all still otterly loveable wildlife all the same! This is however different to the river otters. One thing many people don’t realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. The camera, positioned on the banks of the brook that leads into the River Trent, has recently captured numerous images of otter activity. Spraint is deposited in less visible areas such as at the base of tree trunks and on boulders. Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Ocean Action Network, Trash Free Seas, Trash Free Seas Alliance and Rippl are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy. Facts about River Otters 1: the coat. Their home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but usually, their territory is much smaller, between 3 and 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). This is because river otters are not as experienced as sea otters. The female is responsible for rearing the pups. Valora esta carrera: Plan de estudios; Perfiles; Campo profesional; Sedes; Titulación; Puntajes mínimos “River Otter.”, Biologydictionary.net Editors. Sea otters’ have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators. Biologydictionary.net Editors. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. They have small heads, with long necks and shoulders. North American river otters tend to live alone or in pairs. Hence, their swimming skills are not as great as the sea otters. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. Biologydictionary.net, August 19, 2020. https://biologydictionary.net/river-otter/. They’re even known to wrap their babies in kelp to keep them safe and warm while they’re off hunting, and as the Marine Mammal Center describes, these pups end up bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean like little corks! again or contact 1.888.780.6763. It’s without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. River otters are crepuscular, meaning they are more active at dawn and at dusk than other times of day. They live in riparian zones, which are the areas that border stream, rivers, and lakes. 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. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. The higher metabolic rate means that the river otters must take in more calories, which is why they are regularly eating. These skills include hunting and fighting. You know, they really appear to love everything they do. The giant otter or giant river otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. If in your dream the otter sinks and is very agitated, this indicates happiness and fortune. The animals sometimes … Whether you’re sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they aren’t spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. I didn't know if they were curious or aggressive, but I backed up the high ground a little more and then they swam away. The researchers found four prior scientific publications documenting attacks, including one that reported a deadly otter attack in India. River otters are found in a variety of habitats that range from temperate to very cold. A river otter’s metabolic rate is approximately 50% higher than a similarly sized land mammal’s. They have dense short underfur, which is covered by darker, coarse hairs that help to repel water. Among many communities in Brazil, however, giant river otters are a … Sea otters aren’t only heftier than river otters—their fur is also quite distinguishable. For example, rabbits, the West African Civet, and the hippopotamus all use dung as territorial marker posts. Their home range shrinks during breeding and rearing season. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. While sea otters use their two webbed hind feet and tail to propel them through the water, the four webbed feet of river otters are what enable them to swim efficiently. They mark their territory by urinating, defecating, scratching, and rubbing their scent glands on rocks and trees. It may seem obvious, but if all else fails—the fastest way to tell what type of otter you’re observing is to examine its environment. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. These otters have muscular and streamlined bodies, short legs, and webbed feet with non-retractable claws. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Neotropical River Otters or River Wolves. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. (Lontra longicaudis)These otters have an elongated and robust cylindrical body, similar to the rest of otters.Their fur is dense and short, with brown hues in the dorsal area and lighter ones on the sides and ventral area.Their head is round and flattened with small ears, and their eyes are small and round. Sea otters typically give birth to only one pup, and care for their young until they become independent around eight months to one year old. In nature, there are two types of Otters, one in the sea and one who lives in rivers. Bears, for instance, will breed in the late spring or early summer. They eat mostly aquatic organisms such as frogs, fish, turtles, insects, and some small mammals. Otter dances and swirls and twirls to the movements of the symphony playing in the water. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 – Tax ID #23-7245152 – Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otters…well, what is the difference, anyway? The female will then spend all her time hunting to increase her body fat. Spraint deposits are usually spread out around 131 – 230 ft (40 to 70 meters) apart. River otter definition is - any of various Old and New World otters (especially genera Lutra and Lontra); especially : one (Lontra canadensis) of Alaska, Canada, and the conterminous U.S. found in aquatic environments from marine coastal regions to high mountains. While the females are similarly much smaller than the males at 10-20 pounds, male river otters only reach a maximum size of around 30 pounds. The mean weights and sizes of river otters in southern latitudes tend to be lower than those in latitudes farther north. They are active during the day and at night, hunting in streams, rivers and ponds for fish, crayfish and turtles. Far-right violence got Parler kicked off Sea otters are hunters of clams, sea urchins and other shelled creatures. River otters were an essential part of the fur-bearing trade and still are, with China and Russia the biggest consumers, DePerno said. Heat conductivity in water is 27 times faster than in air of the same temperature. Prey-dependence leaves otters very vulnerable to prey depletion. River otters have an amazing physiological adaptation that may help their young to survive. fewer sea urchins -> more kelp -> less global warming. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. River otters are very messy eaters—but they really appear to love eating. Text STOP to 69866 to stop receiving messages. Let’s take a closer look. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). They even have the adorable habit of floating on their backs, even while they’re eating, and have been known to hold hands with each other while sleeping so they don’t drift apart from their pals! Although they live alone or in pairs, these otters often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. With their sweet appearance and playful nature, it may seem impossible that otters are dangerous. Additionally, sea otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, while river otters spend most of theirs on land, venturing into the water for tasks like hunting for food and traveling.
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