Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. 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). Who will win? Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. 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. Without a doubt, dolphins are jerks. They live in or near oceans. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. But this should not be so. Although described as the smallest marine mammal this species is quite large as otters go, reaching as much as 80 lbs. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. . The rehabilitated sea otters were released into an environment of intense competition and were at a disadvantage when it came time to find a mate. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. If youre on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: its a river otter. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. 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. I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. Please try Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. Two out of those three species are now in decline. Its Easy To Do. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 2Lemur vs. Koala; Panda vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Koala and Wolverine.Day 33/23: Fins and FlippersSea Lion vs. Sea Horse; Penguin vs. Manatee; Walrus vs. Sea Otter; Whale vs. Salmon (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter, Whale, and Penguin.Day 43/24: Horns and HoovesElephant vs. Horned Lizard; Rhino vs. Narwhal; Saola vs. Moose; Mountain Goat vs. Reindeer (voting closed) WINNERS: Elephant, Narwhal, Moose, and Mountain Goat.Day 53/25: Shells and WingsSea Turtle vs. Pelican; Sage Grouse vs. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! 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 what promises to be two close matches, Sea Otter will face off against Penguin, and ThinkProgress office-favorite Sea Horse will battle the severely endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. Male seals can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 600 pounds, while otters are much smaller and typically reach up to 3 feet long and weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. It has "toes" on its feet. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity - the threats they face in the wild. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. If you find these critters as otterly . They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. Wannabe mother primates may steal the baby of another and unintentionally starve that infant in a phenomenon called aunting to death. Dominant wild dogs may kill the offspring of subordinate members of the pack to make sure the alphas infants get the most food. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. : They are huge eaters! Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. Otters and seals have many things in common. union county latest news The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. Learn More About Estate Planning. Noun; A large body of salty water. For as cute as they are while intertwining paws at an aquarium, frolicking among the wafting fronds of California kelp forests, or smashing sea urchins open with stones, some sea otters have developed the disturbing habit of humping and drowning baby seals. They are one of the only mammals that use tools to help them hunt and feed, and they happen to have the densest fur of any other mammal on the planet. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. About Us The species are either aquatic or semi-aquatic depending on the species. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The sea otter does, however, have a shorter tail than the river otter. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. Darwin knew this well. The notion that sea otters fall in love and hold hands in the ocean so that they dont drift away from one another is a foreign concept to a river otter! Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. The Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. They are basically carnivores. 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. again or contact 1.888.780.6763, Learning From and Standing With Climate Justice Communities, Senior Policy Analyst, Fish Conservation Program, Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. There are 13 species of otters. First, sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters and, when at the water's surface, they float on their backs, while river otters swim belly down like most animals. However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Search. The main difference between the two species is their size; Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest otters in the world, while sea otters are the largest. YES! Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. difference between sea otter and penguin. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. difference between sea otter and penguin. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Learn more. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. They give birth on the land. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. (In the concluding paragraphs of On the Origin of Species, he observed that this view of life contains grandeur and horror alike.) Sea otters have back feet that are larger than their front feet, and much larger than the feet of a river otter. Male sea otters compete with one another for mates. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. Peregrine FalconDay 104/1: TBDDay 114/2: TBDDay 124/3: THE FINAL FOUR: TBDDay 134/6: THE CHAMPIONSHIP: TBD, PAST ROUNDS:Round 7: Sweet Sixteen, part 2Round 6: Sweet Sixteen, part 1Round 5: Shells and WingsRound 4: Horns and HoovesRound 3: Fins and FlippersRound 2: Paws and Claws, part 2Round 1: Paws and Claws, part 1, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. It lives with its family for about a year. All rights reserved. They spend their lives in water, and have many adaptations to their entirely aquatic lifestyle. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. Otter and seals belong to different families. The Northern sea otter and the Southern sea otter, but in actuality, this is the one and only species of otter that is a lifelong ocean-dweller. Thank you for reading! Asian small-clawed otters have relatively short hair that consists of two layers a coarse, waterproof outer coat and a softer, finer layer that is used for warmth. Protect the Arctic from Future Oil Spills. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. Theyre even known to wrap their babies in kelp to keep them safe and warm while theyre 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! Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. Lets take a look and some similarities, and differences, between these two amazingly fascinating animals! Did You Know. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. Warming oceans and changing marine conditions due to climate change and ocean acidification make it harder for the whale, which has an exceptionally long migratory and gestation period, to prosper and further threaten the species survival. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. 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. On average, seals are larger than otters. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. Length of Lions Mane Jellyfish vs Blue Whale. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. Ribbon Seals have a maximum lifespan of about 30 years, but they likely live about 20 years. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? 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 identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. Peregrine Falcon; Oyster vs. Butterfly; Lobster vs. Red Knot (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Turtle, Falcon, Butterfly, Red Knot.Day 63/26: Polar Bear vs. Pangolin; Koala vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear, Wolverine.Day 73/27: Sea Horse vs. Whale; Sea Otter vs. Penguin (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter.Day 83/30: Elephant vs. Mountain Goat; Moose vs. Narwhal (voting NOW OPEN)Day 93/31: Sea Turtle vs. Red Knot; Butterfly vs. They are not very graceful on land because of their flippers, but they manage to move very well in the water. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. We shouldnt draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior that make us cringe, as Levick did when he coded some of his Adlie penguin notes in Greek and ultimately decided not to publish his findings. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. 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. 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.. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. are about 33 species in this family. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. . Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. Habitat degradation due to development and accidental bycatch from shrimp and fishing vessels also endanger these charismatic creatures. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately.
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