|
Otters are semi-aquatic
mammals.
There are currently
four species of
otter, including
the sea otter that
are endangered,
while three other
otter species have
a vulnerable status.
|
Otters
Classification:
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
|
Other Names:
Certain otter species
have a number of
other names by which
they are known.
They include:
|
Sea Otter
- Sea Cat,
Lutra Felina
North American
River Otter
- Northern
River Otter,
Common Otter
|
Sub-species
of Otters: There
are approximately
13 species of otters.
|
Otter
Species Include:
African
Clawless Otter
- Aonyx
capensis
Asian Small-Clawed
Otter -
Aonyx cinereus
Congo Clawless
Otter
- Aonyx
congicus
Sea Otter
- Enhydra
lutris
North American
River Otter-
Lontra
canadensis
Marine
Otter
- Lontra
felina
Neotropical
Otter
- Lontra
longicaudis
South American
River Otter
- Lontra
provocax
Eurasian
Otter
- Lutra
lutra
Spotted-Necked
Otter
- Lutra
maculicollis
Hairy-Nosed
Otter
- Lutra
sumatrana
Smooth-Coated
Otter
- Lutrogale
perspicillata
Giant Otter
- Pteronura
brasiliensis
|
Size: Otters
are the smallest
of all marine mammals
in the world. The
smallest otter is
the Oriental Small-clawed
Otters their body
measures 12 - 24
inches and weighs
2.2-11.9 lbs. The
largest otter is
the South American
Otter body measures
6 feet long. The
otter's tail will
generally make up
about 40% of the
their length. The
heaviest otter is
likely the sea otter
weighing up to to
95 lbs.
Habitat: Otters
are Africa, Asia,
and parts of North
America, Central
America, and South
America. Antarctica
and Australia are
the only two places
in the world where
otters are not found.
Sea otters are found
in the Pacific Ocean,
but most otter species
live in rivers,
lakes, and marshes.
Otters prefer to
live in bodies of
water that are close
to land offering
them wetlands or
the woods close
by. Otters are often
found in swamp and
marsh areas because
it gives them good
opportunities to
avoid predators.
Otters are protective
of their land habitat
but they are not
territorial in the
water.
Otters
in Other
Languages:
Albanian:
Lunderz
Czech:
Vydra
Danish:
Odder
Dutch:
Otter /Otterbont
Estonian:
Saarmas
Finnish:
Saukko
French:
Loutre
Gaelic:
Dobhar-chu
/ Madadh
Donn / Dobhran
Galician:
Lontra /
Londra
German:
Otter
Hungarian:
Vidra
Icelandic:
Otur
Indonesian:
Linsang
Irish:
Dobharchu
/ Madra
Uisce /
Dobhran
/ Dobhrain
Italian:
Lontra
Latin:Llutra
Latvian:
Udrs
Malay:
Memerang
Navajo:
Tabaastiin
Norwegian:
Oter
Old English:
Oter
Old Irish:
Doburchu
Polish:
Wydra
Portuguese:
Lontra
Romanian:
Lutra /
Vidra
Sardinian:
Lontra
Slovak:
Vydra
Slovenian:
Vidra
Spanish:
Nutria /
Lutria
Swedish:
Utter
Turkish:
Su Samuru
/ Lutr
Welsh:
Dyfrgi
|
Diet: An
otters diet varies
by species.The European
and African clawless
otter, hunt fish,
octopus, frogs and
other aquatic prey.
While the sea otter,
stick to shellfish.
To crack open hard
abalone shells,
the inventive sea
otter floats on
its back and hits
the shell on a rock
that it balances
on its belly. Otters
eat from 15% to
25% of their body
weight each day.
Otters can spend
as much as 5 hours
a day eating.
Senses: Otters
have a keen sense
of smell.
Description:
Otters have
long streamlined
bodies, short legs
with webbed feet
and non-retractable
claws. Otters have
dense, two layer
coat of dark brown
fur. The outer fur
layer is waterproof.
Otters are said
to have the thickest
fur of all animals,
with at least 250,000
hairs per square
inch. Some otters
species have up
to 1 million hairs
per square inch!
|
Communication:
Otters are very
chatty, and
seem to communicate
through series
of sounds that
include clicks,
screams, chirps,
and squeals.
They communicate
using touch
as well. They
will also mark
their territory
with their scent
(feces). |
Did
You
Know?
Otters
are
closely
related
to
weasels,
polecats
and
badgers.
|
|
Gestation:
Otters carry their
young 2-5 months depending
on the species.
|
Birth: Otters
give live birth
to their offspring,
and the young
nurse from their
mothers. Most
otter species
will have litters
with 2-5 pups.
There is a high
mortality rate
and it is unusual
for more than
one pup to survive. |
Did
You
Know?
In
some
Native
American
cultures,
otters
are
considered
totem
animals.
|
|
Pups: Most
otter pups stay
with their mother
for the first year
of their life.
|
Sexual Maturity:
Otters sexually
mature between
the ages of
3-6. Males seek
out females
when it is time
to mate. |
Did
You
Know?
Sea
Otters
use
"tools
"
to
open
the
hard
abalone
shells,
that
are
staples
of
their
diet.
The
sea
otter
floats
on
its
back
and
hits
the
shell
on
a
rock
that
it
balances
on
its
belly.
|
|
Life Span:
Otters have a life
span of 15 to 20
years.
Social Structure:
Otters are very
social animals.
They are extremely
playful and entertaining
to watch. They often
spend a lot of time
grooming. Some otters
live in very large
groups, while others
are solitary or
live with only one
or two others. It
depends on the species
of Otter as well
as where they are
located.
Unusual:
Male Otters are
called meowters,
females are queens,
and the offspring
are pups.
|
|
