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. Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. 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. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Have some feedback for us? Individual Behavior Grooming. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. The elephant seal can weigh up to 6,000lbs and grows 20ft long. Northern Sea Otter - Alaska Department of Fish and Game They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. 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 . You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. 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. 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)! ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. 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 are mostly solitary but come together in groups to mate. 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. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Sea Otter - Animal profile, pictures, facts, range map Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. 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. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. 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). Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. These two similarly named and look-alike animals are, in fact, very different. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. 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. Which would you like to know more about? We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. difference between sea otter and penguin - gelito.co.uk Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . Learn more. Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. All About Otters - Physical Characteristics | SeaWorld Parks Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. 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). River otters are smaller than sea otters in both length and weight. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. 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. It has "toes" on its feet. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. While both species enjoy the company of many otters, sea otters form powerful partnerships with their chosen mate. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. Parents can be as bad as siblings. 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). There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. Otters have long bodies and short legs, while seals have shorter bodies and longer flippers. 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. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. (In the concluding paragraphs of On the Origin of Species, he observed that this view of life contains grandeur and horror alike.) Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? 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. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. 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. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. Nevertheless, seals tend to be much larger than otters. Its as easy as that! Please try again
St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? The limbs are modified into flippers. 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. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Not only is this useful for staying together, but it also keeps them away from the shore where many of their predators reside. 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. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). Did you know that sea otters mate for life? Have some feedback for us? With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Found in both saltwater and freshwater, a river otter lounges around riverbanks and swims with its belly down, keeping the majority of its body submerged below the water. Make A Lasting Impact By Leaving A Gift To Ocean Conservancy In Your Will. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. Noun; A large body of salty water. There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. Sea otter, dolphin, and penguin behavior: Your favorite animals are jerks. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. For example, sea lions are sometimes believed to be seals, but that is not the case. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. difference between sea otter and penguin - tagestion.ca Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. Their gestation period lasts between 9 to 12 months. Whats the Difference Between a Dolphin and Shark? Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Marine mammals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thats quite the size difference! Heres a quick snapshot of just some of the otter and seal species size ranges: Asian Small Clawed Otters are the smallest species of otter. If youre on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: its a river otter. The sentiments about proper human behavior were impressed upon the penguins, and vice versa. Sea otters are larger than river otters. . Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. 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! 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. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. Thank you for reading! Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. 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. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. While visiting Adlie penguins rookeries, Levick was shocked by the activities of what he called hooligan cocks. Males accosted and copulated with other males, females that were injured, chicks that had tumbled from their nests, and corpses. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. 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. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Careers, 2023 SeaQuest, All Rights Reserved. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! hold hands with other otters so they dont drift apart, Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, Weight: 10lbs-99lbs Length: 2ft-6ft, Blubber deposits under the skin keep true seals warm, -Dense fur that has two layers, guard hairs, and insulating underfur, Spend equal amounts of time on land and in the water, Spend the vast majority of their time in the water. 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. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. There are only 450 left in the world. It lives with its family for about a year. Sea otters have an average lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild while river otters live an average of 9-12 years. 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. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. 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. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26-37 in.) A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. 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. There are over 70 different species of cetacean. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. Ribbon Seals have a maximum lifespan of about 30 years, but they likely live about 20 years. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. SeaQuest Blog In addition, sea otters tend to live in small to large familial groups, but river otters, especially males, are more territorial, and while they will be social, they prefer solitary lives or in small family groups. when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Since southern sea otters are found in cooler waters, its important for their fur to be able to insulate them from the weather. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. Seahorse: Last time we talked about seahorses, we mentioned their fragile coastal ecosystemscoral reefs and mangroves, for instance, are especially vulnerable to disturbances brought on by warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased flooding. 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. The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. But this should not be so. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. 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. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. Copyright 2023. They are basically carnivores. launchpad classlink nmusd; cantonese text to speech; 15 second tv commercial script examples Thank you for reading! Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. 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. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. 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. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. (Major seas are known as oceans.) 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. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. Privacy Policy. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called "depravity" of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Sea Otter Vs River Otter (9 Key Differences) - Wildlife Informer Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? River Otter Vs Sea Otter Differences You Ought To Know | Kidadl They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic.