Well, they do. Whether youre 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. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. What's the Difference Between River Otters and Sea Otters? Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. 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. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! Georgia Aquarium, along with other zoos and aquariums, work tirelessly to educate and inspire guests, while providing our otters the best veterinary and nutritional care. Length of Lions Mane Jellyfish vs Blue Whale. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. 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 . In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. The Knysna seahorse is extremely vulnerable to increases in water temperatures; in 1991, more than 3,000 were found dead after heavy rainfall resulted in higher than normal temperatures. They also feed on invertebrates and small animals found in the sea. Sea otters have an average lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild while river otters live an average of 9-12 years. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). 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. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. All otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. Not only do these two creatures have different habitats, but they have both evolved fur to best suit those habitats. Get Out Your Green & Gold! 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. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called "depravity" of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Two out of those three species are now in decline. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. Sea otters have back feet that are larger than their front feet, and much larger than the feet of a river otter. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. Their bodies and feet are also shaped very differently as well. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. 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. River Otters | Seattle Aquarium It may seem obvious, but the best way to tell if youre looking at a river otter or a sea otter is just paying attention to the body of water youre observing! About Us In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. asia deep blue crete menu . Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. What is the difference between the sea otter and the marine otter They give birth on the land. In 2010, California Department of Fish and Game biologist Heather Harris and colleagues reported 19 individual cases of male sea otters trying to mate with, and often fatally injuring, harbor seal pups in the Monterey Bay, Calif. area between 2000 and 2002 alone. Travailleur Autonome Gestion michigan department of corrections directory; 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. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. 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. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. 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. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Contact Us 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. 2022 Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA. Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. The dark side of superficially cute animals is a part of their nature that reminds us that the wild does not exist for our entertainment and whimsy. On the other hand, there are 12 different species of river otter found around the world, from the North American river otter to the Japanese river otter to the Asian small-clawed otter. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Graduating Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theatre and a specialization in creative writing, I have an invested interest in a variety of topics, particularly Pacific Northwest history. 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. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. They entirely depend on meat for survival. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. Though most species occur in cold-water environments. It has "toes" on its feet. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. While both species enjoy the company of many otters, sea otters form powerful partnerships with their chosen mate. 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! You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. subfamily. Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. There seems to be no crime too low for these penguins, he confided to his journal. Still, the attempts to mate with seals requires an explanation. 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. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. There are nearly 2,000 different species! However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. Please try union county latest news Which would you like to know more about? Sea otters are larger SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. The main feature that makes otters appear different from seals is the body size. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. Your best bet for differentiating these animals is to look for their ears, flippers, tails, size, and fur. They average around 2 feet in length and weigh around 10 pounds. They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. Nevertheless, seals tend to be much larger than otters. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. 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. Read the rules here. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. How to Tell the Difference Between Sea Otters and River Otters But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. 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. Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. The species are either aquatic or semi-aquatic depending on the species. All About Otters - Physical Characteristics | SeaWorld Parks The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. Have a question? Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. As Douglas and colleagues stressed in their preface to Levicks report, though, the behavior [displayed by hooligan males] is clearly not analogous to necrophilia in the human context. That fact can easily be lost when one is appalled by an animal acting out a human taboo. Please try again
Otter belongs to the Mustelidae family while the seal belongs to the Phocidae family. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. Today, were in round two of the Sweet Sixteen, and the winners of our Fins and Flippers division are going head to head. The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. W178 CENTEX Centex Charmyland Saru Gorilla Sea Otter Walrus Penguin River otters are smaller than sea otters in both length and weight. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otterswell, what is the difference, anyway? Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. They are comparatively smaller in body size. They consume around 10 lbs of food per day. Seal Vs Otter: What Are the Differences? - AZ Animals And amorous males of various species, including the noble lion, kill infants to make their mothers available for breeding again. Levick wrote an entire book about the seagoing birds on his return, describing the impression of the elegant avians like so: When seen for the first time, the Adlie penguin gives you the impression of a very smart little man in an evening dress suit, so absolutely immaculate is he, with his shimmering white front and black back and shoulders. But the species shocked and horrified Levick so much so that his four-page report Sexual Habits of the Adlie Penguin was purposefully omitted from the official expedition findings and distributed only to a small group of researchers considered learned and discreet enough to handle the graphic content. Male sea otters typically grasp the female from behind and bite her face, and this rough behavior was associated with the deaths of about 11 percent of dead sea otters discovered between 2000 and 2003. On average, seals are larger than otters. Young cattle egrets will peck and harass weaker siblings, going so far to push them out of the nest and to their doom.