This makes people think that it is the same animal. River otters, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. 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. There seems to be no crime too low for these penguins, he confided to his journal. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. Sea otters are larger 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. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. The most common seal in the Arctic, the ringed seal is the smallest of the seal species. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. 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. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. 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. Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. are about 33 species in this family. 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. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. 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. difference between sea otter and penguinups insurance cost calculator. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. Both types of otters need their coats to form a layer of insulation that traps air to keep them warm, and they certainly need it when areas like the Pacific dip to chilly temperatures that are often between 35 and 60 (and even lower than that as you move up the coast toward Alaska and Canada)! 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. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Have a question? With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! 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! Otter and seals belong to different families. Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. 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. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. While it may seem obvious at first, you may not know all of the differences between a river otter vs sea otter. difference between sea otter and penguin - helozzsoap.com (label) A large number or quantity; a vast amount.A sea of faces stared back at the singer. If they cant keep them on their stomachs for some reason like if they are hunting, scientists have witnessed sea otters wrapping their young in kelp to keep them afloat while the mothers seek food. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. Sea Otters have an average lifespan of 15-20 years but in captivity, some live over 25 years. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Careers, 2023 SeaQuest, All Rights Reserved. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. 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. They also feed on invertebrates and small animals found in the sea. 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). Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. 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. 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! Vote in the embedded tweets below, on Twitter with the hashtag #CPMarchSadness, or on our Facebook page. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters The newborn is taken care of by the males, females, and other offspring. difference between sea otter and penguin. A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. Its as easy as that! Make A Lasting Impact By Leaving A Gift To Ocean Conservancy In Your Will. They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. difference between sea otter and penguin. 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. Seal Vs Otter: What Are the Differences? - AZ Animals 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. The North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. 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 huge eaters! Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. 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. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. And always keep in mind where youre looking if youre at the ocean, chances are youre looking at a sea otter as opposed to a river otter. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different families. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. Difference between Otter and Seal - Difference Betweenz They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". 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. Otters and seals have many things in common. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. Sea Otter Vs River Otter (9 Key Differences) - Wildlife Informer A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. 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! These are the major differences between seals and otters, and their unique qualities become even more prominent when you look closer at these two creatures. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! They are basically carnivores. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. Learn more. Rocky Shores & Arctic Tundra - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. 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. Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. Their hind feet are webbed to aid in swimming, and their front toes are short and stiff. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. 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.. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Asian Small-Clawed Otters have a classification of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List while Sea and Giant Otters are listed as Endangered as of today. They live in or near oceans. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Lets take a look and some similarities, and differences, between these two amazingly fascinating animals! 8 Difference Between Otter and Seal (With Table) This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. Sea otters are larger than river otters. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. While both species enjoy the company of many otters, sea otters form powerful partnerships with their chosen mate. The dark sides of otters, dolphins, and penguins are just as much a part of their nature as the parts we find so squee-inducingly adorable. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. 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. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean its a sea otter. Two out of those three species are now in decline. All About Otters - Behavior | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. Who will you choose? You Otter Know! - Georgia Aquarium For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). 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. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. Difference Between Otter And Seal - Pulptastic Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. 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. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. . The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation.