Sea otters are a marine mammal that live off the coasts of the northern and eastern north pacific ocean. The other, much smaller otter breed is the Marine Otter, whose population lives on the coasts of Peru and Chile. To facilitate this they have loose skin, and they are flexible and supple so they can reach the fur on all parts of their bodies. Click here for a brochure on the differences between sea otters and river otters. I just got clan farm a few minutes ago, and I'm waiting for 300 clams so I can get urchin farm. Sea otters live in large colonies, but river otters tend to stay in small family groups. However, science and conservation-based management decisions began about 60 years ago, and much of the research on sea otters in the United States has occurred since the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Sea otters are streamlined and sleek and can reach speeds of up to six miles per hour. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 gave NOAA Fisheries responsibility for the management and conservation of all but three species of marine mammals in Alaska. I, too, assumed that sea + otter = sea otter. Get news and updates delivered to your inbox, Privacy & Terms© 2021, Seattle Aquarium is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. First, sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters—and, when at the water’s surface, they float on their backs, while river otters swim belly down like most animals. Sea otters vs. river otters Many people don’t know the difference between sea otters and river otters — but, with a little info, you’ll be able to tell right away. The Seattle Aquarium is temporarily closed to the public. The marine otter (Lontra felina) is a rare and relatively unknown South American mammal of the weasel family (Mustelidae). Also, female sea otters give birth to just one pup at a time—river otters may give birth to several cubs in a litter. Sea otters did not have the thick layer of blubber common to most other marine mammals and needed for insulation against the cold waters. But instead, I held back and listened to the conversation, thinking back to ten years ago or so when I first saw river otters in the ocean. Otters usually eat crustaceans, fish, frog, rodents, and the marine invertebrates with hard shells like crab, mussels, etc. Marine otters are foraging predators that eat a wide variety of prey. Sea otters are usually dark brown, often with lighter guard h… Based on the sequence data presented here, our results suggest that otters are divided into three primary clades that include: (1) the North American river, neotropical and marine otters; (2) the sea, Eurasian, spotted‐necked, cape clawless and small‐clawed otters; and (3) the giant otter. Here are a few to get you started, plus some basic information about how they fit into the otter pet trade: 1. There are 13 types of otter in total, but some are more common than others. If you have any comments then please drop us a message on our Outdoor Revival Facebook page. In fact, at 850,000 to one million hairs per square inch, they have the thickest fur of any mammal. Sea Otters have fully webbed, long, flat hind feet which they use to swim. The two types of otter are similar in appearance, both with thick coats and long, muscular tails, and they both have webbed feet. Unlike many species of weasels, scientists believe the marine otter to be monogamous. If you have a good story to tell or blog let us know about it on our FB page, we’re also happy for article or review submissions, we’d love to hear from you. There are only a handful of non-primate species known to use tools, including dolphins and octopuses. Sea otter: Illegal to own under the Marine Animal Protection Act. Their muscular tails, which are short and thick, steer them like a rudder when swimming and help with balance on land. Their diet consists mostly of shellfish and other marine invertebrates like mussels, clams, snails, abalone, and sea urchins. These fun-loving, raucous boys spend a great deal of time on land exploring, searching for food, clowning around and generally having a great time—much to the delight of our visitors. River otters live in dens, which they can make themselves in shrubbery or along riverbanks—and they are also happy to take up residence in abandoned beaver, badger, fox or rabbit dwellings. Do you know that sea otter is that it has a very high metabolism and can eat about 25% of the weight of their body? These animals are the smallest of marine animals, and they were once hunted almost to the point of extinction. Many people don’t know the difference between sea otters and river otters—but, with a little info, you’ll be able to tell right away. The scientific name means "otter cat", and in Spanish, the marine otter is also often referred to as gato marino: "marine cat". These animals spend most of the time in the water, but they can move around on the land also. The variety in the sea otter diet reduces competition between benthic grazers and supports greater diversity in those species. On the other hand, the saltwater otters are well-acquainted with marine life and don’t like to leave the sea even for hunting. The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) is the smallest marine mammal in North America – males measure 1.2 metres in length and weigh an average of 45 kilograms (females are a bit smaller).At the same time, the Sea Otter is the largest member of its family, the mustelids, which includes River Otters, weasels, badgers, wolverines and martens. The health of many other species is determined by the health of the sea otter population, making them a keystone species. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of … First, sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters — and, when at the water’s surface, they float on their backs, while river otters … Their fur actually consists of two layers, an undercoat and longer guard hairs. This system traps a layer of air next to their skin so their skin does not get wet. Instead, they have very thick fur coats. The marine otter is larger than the Eurasian Otter. The otters belong to the weasel family Mustelidae. The southern sea otter was widely believed to be extinct due to the expansive fur trade of the 18th and 19th centuries, which reduced the global population from between 150,000 and 300,000 to roughly 2,000. Outdoor Revival – Reconnecting us all with the Outdoors. When you come to the Seattle Aquarium, you may be lucky enough to see Molalla “squeegee-ing” the water from his fur against one of the exhibit’s hard surfaces. They are occasionally seen along the Straits of Juan de Fuca near Port Angeles, but they rarely venture further inland than that. Sea otters are strong and seasoned swimmers, and they maneuver themselves with ease in the water, using their feet and tails expertly. This allows the kelp forest to thrive and contributes to an increase in marine diversity. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are the smallest of all marine mammals and are members of the weasel family. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to … For other uses, see Sea otter (disambiguation). In coastal waters, they can be found traveling and foraging in estuaries, marshes and the lower parts of streams. In recent years there has been much effort put into returning sea otter populations to previous numbers with conservation programs and re-introduction projects. In fact, this fur is the most abundant among all animals on earth. • Identify the body parts and behaviors of a seal. Reproduction Otter spraints are messy smudges with a distinct, not unpleasant smell, and contain bones and fish scale remains. This stone is used to crack open mollusks. River otters need to groom their fur frequently to maintain its water resistance and insulating properties. They are covered with thick fur which is predominantly dark brown, but it can sometimes be black or a silvery gray. The Marine Mammal Center. Two Alaska marine mammals are neither pinniped nor cetacean: the polar bear and sea otter. Tracks are usually at least 2cm wide (wider than your thumbprint). What does an Otter eat? Fanshawe and her colleagues found that red abalone were far more abundant at the sites without sea otters than at those with the otters: there were about seven times more of the abalone in the “deep” zones (15.6 vs 2.2 per study plot), and nearly 20 times more in the “shallow” zones (17.5 vs … These are river otters. Also found along the west coast of Scotland. Otters have some interesting relatives. Sea otters, as the name suggests, are marine animals, and they live just off the coasts of the Northern and Eastern Pacific Ocean. The coloring of adult sea otters tends to be lighter on their heads, throats, and chests. Sea otters were hunted to near-extinction for their fur in the 1700s and 1800s. These seals can remain underwater for close to 30 minutes! Sea Otters and Polar Bears: Marine Fissipeds. To keep their thick fur waterproof, they spend hours grooming. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) have been managed under international law longer (starting in 1911) than most marine mammal species (Figure 1). They bear the thickest fur of all mammals! This saltwater exclusivity is unlike most other otter species, except for the almost fully aquatic s… The gait of sea otters on land is somewhat clumsy, but river otters can sprint short distances at high speed. Physical characteristics: Male northern sea otters average 70–100 pounds and 4.5 feet in length, including tail. In the years from about the 1740s and the early 1900s, the population of sea otters plummeted from about 200,000 animals to just about 2000 due to their being extensively hunted and killed for their thick fur. Habitat: Otters can be found beside rivers, streams and lakes, mostly in north and west England and Wales. One of these otters is the Sea Otter, which is found in the Pacific Coast of North America. Their front paws are used to find prey in the dark murky water, with their whiskers helping them with this task. They have an interesting method of eating their prey. Learn more. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter’s tail is long and pointed. The air trapped within the thick fur of their coats coupled with an incredible lung capacity (about 2.5 times more than any other mammals of the same size) makes the sea otter very buoyant. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. There are other important differences between these two species as well: Northern sea otters are found only in coastal areas, with a range that extends north from the Washington coast, along the outer edge of Vancouver Island, and up to Alaska. Once you’ve guessed, you can see each otter’s picture on our sea otter fact sheet. These animals are the smallest of marine animals, and they were once hunted almost to the point of extinction. Sea otters are members of the weasel or mustelid family. Sea otters rest by wrapping themselves in kelp to keep from drifting away. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Also, sea otters spend most of their lives in the water, where they breed, give birth, hunt for food and sleep. 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