Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Thank you for reading! 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. 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. Otters are comparatively smaller while seals are larger in body size. Its as easy as that! Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. They feed on fish and shellfish. 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. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). 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. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Sea otters typically give birth to only one pup, and care for their young until they become independent around eight months to one year old. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. 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. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). They are comparatively smaller in body size. when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. There are about 33 species in this family. 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. Noun; A large body of salty water. Keep reading to learn more about what makes each of these species unique. They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. It lives with its family for about a year. Please try 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. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . Young cattle egrets will peck and harass weaker siblings, going so far to push them out of the nest and to their doom. The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. 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. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. River otters have a thick, lustrous coat that keeps them warm. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. 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)! Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. Thank you for reading! North American River Otter 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! True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. 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. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for W178 CENTEX Centex Charmyland Saru Gorilla Sea Otter Walrus Penguin Rockhoppe at the best online prices at eBay! A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! (label) A large number or quantity; a vast amount.A sea of faces stared back at the singer. There are nearly 2,000 different species! The sentiments about proper human behavior were impressed upon the penguins, and vice versa. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Individual Behavior Grooming. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. 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. how to cancel quizlet subscription; denver criminal court docket; cody and caleb martin salary; how to remove a backwards bullet from the chamber 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. 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. Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. 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. Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. 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. 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. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. In the U.S. the dwarf seahorse, one-inch-long seahorse, found in seagrass beds in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean, is threatened with extinction due to decline of seagrass and lingering pollution from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according to the Center for Biological Diversity. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. Male sea otters compete with one another for mates. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. On average, seals are larger than otters. 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). Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. 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. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. 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. River otters also eat a different diet when compared to sea otters. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. About Us 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. Well, they do. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. 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. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. SeaQuest Blog Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . union county latest news As their name suggests, sea otters live in the sea! I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. . 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. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. 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. Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. The newborn is taken care of by the males, females, and other offspring. 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. And delphine sexual aggression isnt limited to members of their own kind. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. Your Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife. Southern sea otters are approximately four feet in length and weigh on average between 45-65 pounds. 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. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Thank you for visiting! What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. And amorous males of various species, including the noble lion, kill infants to make their mothers available for breeding again. According to the IUCN, this can make it hard for otters to meet their high metabolic needs, leading to malnutrition or starvation.. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. 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). Otters spend the vast majority of their time in the water, and they even sleep in the water. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. 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. 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. . Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. Terms & Conditions. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. There are nearly 2,000 different species! 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. Youll have a very simple time determining if you are looking at an otter from a true seal with one or two of those factors. 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. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. 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. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Who will you choose? Privacy Policy. 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 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! 2. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) can be split into two regional subspecies. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). Another significant difference is the number of offspring these creatures have. subfamily. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. 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. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. Free shipping for many products! Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Some river otters can be found in wetlands and lakes. 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. A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. They eat 15% of their body weight a day. Lets dive in and get started! 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. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. 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. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. Copyright 2023. 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. There is no animal that is made of rainbows and kisses and goodness all the way through. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. 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. But this should not be so. 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. Although both seals and otters come in various sizes due to their many species, seals are almost always larger than otters. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. 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. Their bodies and feet are also shaped very differently as well. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. 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.. Seals are marine mammals in the Phocidae family. In terms of colours, seals have thick fur coats that range from pale yellow to light grey and dark brown. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. Otters have long bodies and short legs, while seals have shorter bodies and longer flippers. Which would you like to know more about? 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt.