Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, River Otter vs Sea Otter: 5 Key Differences. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! 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. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. When I first heard about the behavior from a marine biologist friend of mine, I didnt quite believe sea otters could be so diabolical. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. The one exception to these rules is the Marine otter (Lontra felina) these otters are the only species of otter outside the Sea otter that reside in and around saltwater environments. The average lifespan of a sea otter is twelve to fifteen years in the wild, but the average lifespan of a river otter is only nine to twelve years. 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. Additionally, river otters have a very different social structure from sea otters, often preferring solitude over a sea otters committed family structure. The North American River Otter has an average lifespan of 13 years in the wild, but up to 25 years in captivity. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. 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. Which would you like to know more about? Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. (In the concluding paragraphs of On the Origin of Species, he observed that this view of life contains grandeur and horror alike.) 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. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. They even have the adorable habit of floating on their backs, even while theyre eating, and have been known to hold hands with each other while sleeping so they dont drift apart from their pals! Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 Tax ID #23-7245152 Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the ocean, while river otters spend their lives on land unless they need to hunt or travel elsewhere. subfamily. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. 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. The marine creatures also serve as fighters of climate change: their main preysea urchinslike to eat kelp, so by keeping the sea urchin population at a sustainable level, they keep kelp forests lush. Asian Small-Clawed Otters will live around 12 years in captivity but lifespan in the wild is really unknown, with an estimated number of 5,000 left in the world. All of this is only the barest catalog of common and widespread phenomena in nature that we often shy away from examining, as we have great difficulty divorcing our own sense of morality from a wilderness that does not and cannot share our values. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! Im going to ruin sea otters for you. 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. . One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. River otters also eat a different diet when compared to sea otters. Make A Lasting Impact By Leaving A Gift To Ocean Conservancy In Your Will. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. For males, the difference is also significant a southern male grows up to 70 pounds while a northern male can reach up to 100 pounds! Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Individual Behavior Grooming. Thats quite the size difference! There are so many amazing creatures that dwell in the waters of planet earth, and some of may seem so similar in nature, yet they are difficult to tell apart. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. 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. California Sea Lions live an average of 15 to 25 years, however some have lived to 30 years or more in captivity with proper diet and healthcare. Copyright 2023. Keep reading to learn more about what makes each of these species unique. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. The Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. 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. Otter and seals belong to different families. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. 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. Sea otters are larger than river otters. 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). River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. 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. They feed on fish and shellfish. They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. As Natural History Museum, London ornithologist Douglas Russell and colleagues reported in a preface to Levicks belatedly-released report, this behavior is so ingrained that when a researcher set out a dead penguin that had been frozen in such a position, many males found the corpse irresistible. In a bit of weird field work, the same researcher found that just the frozen head of the penguin, with self-adhesive white Os for eye rings, propped upright on wire with a large rock for a body, was sufficient stimulus for males to copulate and deposit sperm on the rock. I fear Ive just made the Socially Awkward Penguin seem just that much more socially awkward. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. Who will you choose? Their gestation period lasts between 9 to 12 months. Enter your email and never miss an update. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. (Major seas are known as oceans.) 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. These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. Thank you for reading! These two similarly named and look-alike animals are, in fact, very different. Sea otters are generally diurnal. 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. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by They give birth on the land. What is natural is not inherently good or evil: It simply is, and wed be fools to take such examples as models of right or wrong. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) can be split into two regional subspecies. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. The pups learn their mothers voice to avoid confusion of the mother feeding another seals pups. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. River otters, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. There seems to be no crime too low for these penguins, he confided to his journal. Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. Contact us today. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. Why are these male sea otters killing seals? This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. 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. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. Some seals have fur, but they are not considered true seals. 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. All rights reserved. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. If a male cant find a mate because of his youth or inability to chase off competitors, Harris and co-authors suggest, he might search for a female surrogate that may take the form of a young otter or, as in their study, seal pups. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. The webbed feet of a sea otter. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for 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. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they arent spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Habitat degradation due to development and accidental bycatch from shrimp and fishing vessels also endanger these charismatic creatures. River otters are more petite. 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. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26-37 in.) To meet the wonderful sloths that call SeaQuest home, book your visit today at any of the following locations: Best Birthday Party Places in Fort Worth! While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . difference between sea otter and penguin. Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. There are only 450 left in the world. About Us Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. 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. Get Out Your Green & Gold! Travailleur Autonome Gestion michigan department of corrections directory; Scientists believe this difference is due to the size difference between the two creatures. Learn More About Estate Planning. River otters have a thick, lustrous coat that keeps them warm. At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. For example, sea lions are sometimes believed to be seals, but that is not the case. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Otters have webbed paws instead of flippers, visible external ears, and a long, thin tail that is easy to spot. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. 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! 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. 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. American Oceans, Quick Facts: Bioluminescence & What Causes It. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. 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. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. YES! They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. 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.. The sea otter we know is quite a bit larger in stature than the average river otter, the largest adults weighing up to 100lbs, heavier even than the largest river otter, the Giant otter (Pteroneura brasiliensis). The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. What sea otters, dolphins, and penguins sometimes do to one another in their attempts to mate can make us feel queasy, but this is just one sort of animal behaviors that have been unsettling us since the Victorian era. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. Privacy Policy. and weighing just 1 to 5 kg (2.2-11 lbs.). Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Young cattle egrets will peck and harass weaker siblings, going so far to push them out of the nest and to their doom. The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. As 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on everything weve accomplished together on behalf, Climate change touches many aspects of our lives, including the food on our plates. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. Learn more. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large 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. 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. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. The main feature that makes otters appear different from seals is the body size. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. 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. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. again or contact 1.888.780.6763. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. They live in or near oceans. Otters and seals share many things such as they are both mammals and have the same physical appearance although they are different from each other. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. 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! Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. At Rocky Shores you can explore a far Northwest world where land and ocean meet; where sea lions dive, seals splash and otters play. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. 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. 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. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. (label) A large number or quantity; a vast amount.A sea of faces stared back at the singer. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. Have some feedback for us? * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, its a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that its a sea otter. Lets dive in and get started! Have a question? At least two of the sea otters had been previously held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of their rehabilitation program for stranded and injured otters. 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 most common seal in the Arctic, the ringed seal is the smallest of the seal species. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. 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. 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. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! And kelp forests are good at storing carbon: a study in 2012 found that the presence of otters helped carbon storage in North American kelp forests surge. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. 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. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Thank you for reading! Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. 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. When seen for the first time, the Adlie penguin gives you the impression of a very smart little man. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. Sea otters have back feet that are larger than their front feet, and much larger than the feet of a river otter. There are 13 species of otters. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Please try again Sea Otters have an average lifespan of 15-20 years but in captivity, some live over 25 years. 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. They display sexual dimorphism. 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.

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