Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. Lets dive in and get started! A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. Adult males weigh average about 700 pounds and 7 feet in length while females are a bit smaller at 250 pounds and 6 feet in length. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. They are comparatively larger in body size. The newborn is taken care of by the males, females, and other offspring. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. 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. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. They are mammals without fur as adults. Thank you for reading! I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. difference between sea otter and penguin. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Read the rules here. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. The former can reach up to 5.6 mph (9 kph) underwater, while the latter, in North America, has a maximum speed of 8.7 mph (14 kph). The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. Your best bet for differentiating these animals is to look for their ears, flippers, tails, size, and fur. Individual Behavior Grooming. If dolphins really disappeared tomorrow, as in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, I think their final message would be Screw You rather than the So Long, And Thanks for All the Fish farewell Douglas Adams imagined. This only gets creepier given the recent suggestion that dolphins actually have names that they call one another. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. In addition, sea otters tend to live in small to large familial groups, but river otters, especially males, are more territorial, and while they will be social, they prefer solitary lives or in small family groups. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. As the smallest species of otter, they range in size from 4.4 to 11 pounds, with a body length of only 16 to 24 inches, which makes them half the length of a southern sea otter! Not to worry, friends. River Otter Vs Sea Otter Differences You Ought To Know | Kidadl You might think an otter is an otter, but hopefully, this article showed you that while two creatures can be called otters, they are very different. 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. Get Out Your Green & Gold! Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! Learn More About Estate Planning. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. Please try A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. Less like Flipper and more like the megalomaniacal King Snorky of The Simpsons, a dolphin has a permanent smile that gives off a decidedly creepy vibe. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Thank you for visiting! Male bottlenose dolphins will sometimes team up to target a single female and harass her persistently, forcing her to mate with them despite her attempts to escape. At Rocky Shores you can explore a far Northwest world where land and ocean meet; where sea lions dive, seals splash and otters play. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans. While visiting Adlie penguins rookeries, Levick was shocked by the activities of what he called hooligan cocks. Males accosted and copulated with other males, females that were injured, chicks that had tumbled from their nests, and corpses. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. 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 . 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. Elsewhere in Slate, read Jessica Winters essay about her dying cat, an excerpt from Jon Katzs new book about a Rottweiler in need of rescuing, and Jason Bittels thorough investigation into bat sex. Which would you like to know more about? These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! Scientists believe this difference is due to the size difference between the two creatures. Rather than being deviant, the behaviors were a regular part of penguin life, triggered by males associating a rather flexible interpretation of a females mating posture with receptiveness. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. This isnt where their social behavioral differences end, however. Did you know that sea otters mate for life? While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. Otters and seals have many things in common. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. Theyre both known for spending a lot of time in the water, something that is unusual for mammals that dont spend their entire lives in water. Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Sea vs Penguin - What's the difference? | WikiDiff Have a question? This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. 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. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. Delivered in the scientific deadpan required of such papers, the Aquatic Mammals report attributes the incidents to three male sea otters observed harassing, dragging, guarding, and copulating with harbor seals, persisting for up to seven days after the otters killed the objects of their misguided advances. Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young.
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