Its actually quite easy to understand the physical differences between sea otters and river otters once we understand that there is actually only one species of true sea otter. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Many people don't know the difference between sea otters and river otters but, with a little info, you'll be able to tell right away. Theyre found along coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean ranging from California to Russia, and spend a majority of their time swimming, eating, and sleeping in saltwater. They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. The largest of the seal species, the southern elephant seal can grow up to almost 8,000 pounds and 20 feet long for adult males, while adult females are a bit smaller at 2000 pounds and 10 feet in length. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. Have some feedback for us? YES! They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. Such behavior led ornithologist Douglas Mock and colleagues to write Occasionally, the pen of natural selection writes a murder mystery on the pages of evolution. Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. There are 13 species of otters in the world, with 12 of those species requiring access to freshwater and only one species residing in the ocean. Not to mention that we nearly eradicated sea otters out of lust for their pelts, and we continue to keep dolphins confined in small, hard-walled, unhealthy environments for nothing more than our amusement. If you find these critters as otterly . Answers: These three are all sea otters (credit: Deanna Lynch/USFWS) while the first and last photos in this blog are river otters (credit: Barry Troutman). ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. subfamily. Well, they do. Ribbon Seals have a maximum lifespan of about 30 years, but they likely live about 20 years. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Hindflippers rotate underneath to allow them to walk on land, Swim underwater using foreflippers like wings of a bird, Move on land by wiggling on belly and keep hindflippers straight out, Swim by steering with foreflippers and powering with hindflippers, All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. The average river otter only weighs 15-20 pounds, while sea otters can reach anywhere from 20-80 pounds depending on their gender and age. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. For whichever animal wins, ClimateProgress will write a feature-length article exploring the story behind whats ailing your chosen critter, and who is working to save them. The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. Heres a quick snapshot of just some of the otter and seal species size ranges: Asian Small Clawed Otters are the smallest species of otter. Among birds, parents under stress to provide for their offspring during rough years may boot eggs from their nests or kill some of their own chicks so that others might survive. They are unique sea creatures because they are the only marine mammals that can flip over rocks and boulders on the sea floor to find food. The species are either aquatic or semi-aquatic depending on the species. There was nothing obviously wrong with these rehabbed otters, but the trouble they experienced early in their lives might have made them more likely assailants. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. 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. They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26-37 in.) Their unique bodies make it easy to tell the creatures apart. They display sexual dimorphism. In addition to this, once you know the fundamentals of what to look for, its quite easy to differentiate whether or not an otter is a sea otter or a river otter one is large and fluffy and the other is small and streamlined. They entirely depend on meat for survival. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Two out of those three species are now in decline. Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. : They are huge eaters! Lets dive in and get started! Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. Im not saying any of this to put down these animals. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Both are good swimmers but when we compare the two, the seals win because of their streamlined bodies and flippers that enable them to move in water fast. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. Who will you choose? Since southern sea otters are found in cooler waters, its important for their fur to be able to insulate them from the weather. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. They are basically carnivores. Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Have some feedback for us? Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Vote below. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. While a southern sea otters fur maintains heat well in the cold water, their metabolism must work quickly to help keep the animal warm. If we truly wish to appreciate sea otters, dolphins, penguins, and the rest, we need to consider them as they truly are and not just as the cuddly caricatures that never cease to make us go Awww.. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Rhinoceros Facts Lion Facts Elephant Facts Giraffe Facts Flamingo Facts Chimpanzee Facts Penguin Facts Panda Facts Python Facts Great White Shark Facts Tiger Facts Skunk Facts Seal Facts Sea Turtle Facts Porcupine Facts Panther Facts Ostrich Facts Komodo Dragon Facts Hippopotamus Facts . Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. Thank you for reading! What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. Parents can be as bad as siblings. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. how to cancel quizlet subscription; denver criminal court docket; cody and caleb martin salary; how to remove a backwards bullet from the chamber Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. RETWEET for Whale or FAVE for Sea Horse #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/WPiCEtbbDt, ***TOURNAMENT UPDATES:Day 13/19: Paws and Claws pt. Known as Pygoscelis adeliae to scientists, and as the Socially Awkward Penguin through memes, the Adlie penguin was one of the subjects that caught the attention of scientist George Murray Levick while he ventured to the South Pole with the 1910-13 Scott Antarctic Expedition. Please try again Who will win? Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. Considered a cousin of the weasel, otters are known for their elongated bodies, webbed feet, and playful antics, particularly their love of sliding down rocks, banks, or waterfalls. The North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. 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. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. It lives with its family for about a year. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. Still, the attempts to mate with seals requires an explanation. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. Dolphin Coast Presented by Margaritaville by Wyndham, Beginning Environmental Leadership Program, Next Up: Sea Lion Pup Born at Georgia Aquarium, Alliance of Marine Mammals Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), International Marine Animal Trainer's Association (IMATA). In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. Your Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. A sea otter can grow to be up to 4 feet long, while a river otter only grows to be about 2.5 feet long. 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. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. Sure, dolphins may now and then help fishermen looking to snag fish, but dolphins intelligence and social complexity have endowed them with a suite of behaviors that make them seem less adorable than their carefully-groomed theme park images suggest. At Georgia Aquarium, guests can see our southern sea otters in ourCold Water Questgallery and our Asian small-clawed otters in ourSouthern Company River Scoutgallery. . Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter .