They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Have some feedback for us? 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. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Otters have long bodies and short legs, while seals have shorter bodies and longer flippers. Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. Sea otters are larger 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. 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. 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. nurse unit manager interview questions and answers australia. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". Most immediately noticeable is the difference in fur types river otters have short, sleek fur, while sea otters are distinctly fluffy, with long, fuzzy fur thats extremely dense and warm. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. There are about 33 species in this family. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. This isnt where their social behavioral differences end, however. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. 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! They have short limbs with webbed feet. For males, the difference is also significant a southern male grows up to 70 pounds while a northern male can reach up to 100 pounds! There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Still, the attempts to mate with seals requires an explanation. Such behavior led ornithologist Douglas Mock and colleagues to write Occasionally, the pen of natural selection writes a murder mystery on the pages of evolution. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. (Major seas are known as oceans.) Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. Although described as the smallest marine mammal this species is quite large as otters go, reaching as much as 80 lbs. Warming oceans and changing marine conditions due to climate change and ocean acidification make it harder for the whale, which has an exceptionally long migratory and gestation period, to prosper and further threaten the species survival. In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. On average, seals are larger than otters. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. 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. An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Alaska sea otters are slightly larger than . While both species enjoy the company of many otters, sea otters form powerful partnerships with their chosen mate. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. Enter your email and never miss an update. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Make A Lasting Impact By Leaving A Gift To Ocean Conservancy In Your Will. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean its a sea otter. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Two out of those three species are now in decline. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. again or contact 1.888.780.6763. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. They are comparatively larger in body size. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. Thank you for reading! Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. Im not saying any of this to put down these animals. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. 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. You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. River otters are more petite. 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. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. 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. To meet the wonderful sloths that call SeaQuest home, book your visit today at any of the following locations: Best Birthday Party Places in Fort Worth! Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. Hindflippers rotate underneath to allow them to walk on land, Swim underwater using foreflippers like wings of a bird, Move on land by wiggling on belly and keep hindflippers straight out, Swim by steering with foreflippers and powering with hindflippers, All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. 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. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. Sea Otters have an average lifespan of 15-20 years but in captivity, some live over 25 years. Their hind feet are webbed to aid in swimming, and their front toes are short and stiff. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. 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. Sea otters have back feet that are larger than their front feet, and much larger than the feet of a river otter. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. Well, they do. 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! Otter endangered status varies by species and location. 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. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Search. North American River Otters weigh between 10 pounds to 25 pounds and grow up to 3 feet in length. The largest of the seal species, the southern elephant seal can grow up to almost 8,000 pounds and 20 feet long for adult males, while adult females are a bit smaller at 2000 pounds and 10 feet in length. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. 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 also known as fin-footed mammals. River otters can be found in pairs, but they tend to spend time with other otters in a more casual way. 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. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Darwin knew this well. And delphine sexual aggression isnt limited to members of their own kind. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. They are mostly solitary but come together in groups to mate. Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. Careers, 2023 SeaQuest, All Rights Reserved. However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. River otters are smaller than sea otters in both length and weight. how to cancel quizlet subscription; denver criminal court docket; cody and caleb martin salary; how to remove a backwards bullet from the chamber At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. River otters, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. There are only 450 left in the world. Otters mainly feed on invertebrates while seals mainly feed on fish. 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. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. 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. Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. 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). There are over 70 different species of cetacean. At least two of the sea otters had been previously held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of their rehabilitation program for stranded and injured otters. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 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 have a classification of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List while Sea and Giant Otters are listed as Endangered as of today. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 5 Honest Difference Between Mouse Poop and Rat Poop with Similarities, 10 Difference Between Dog and Fox (With Table), 5 Difference Between Bed Bugs and Scabies with Similarities, 15 Differences Between Plant Cell and Animal Cell, https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/what-uc-santa-cruz-learning-about-otters, 7 Difference between Lice and Ticks (With Table), 9 Difference between Leopard and Snow Leopard (With Table), 10 Difference between Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros (With Table), 5 Difference between Farm-Raised and Wild Salmon (With Table), 7 Difference between Earthworm and Leech (With Table). If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! 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. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. Its Easy To Do. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. Please try again 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 have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. Though most species occur in cold-water environments. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. Vote below. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. 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. Its as easy as that! Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. 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. They give birth on the land. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. When I first heard about the behavior from a marine biologist friend of mine, I didnt quite believe sea otters could be so diabolical. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. For example, sea otters are much larger than river otters in both length and weight. They average around 2 feet in length and weigh around 10 pounds. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. Not to mention that we nearly eradicated sea otters out of lust for their pelts, and we continue to keep dolphins confined in small, hard-walled, unhealthy environments for nothing more than our amusement. Otters are comparatively smaller while seals are larger in body size. The webbed feet of a sea otter. are about 33 species in this family. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. 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. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. They are comparatively smaller in body size. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Learn how to tell them apart quickly and easily! Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. Georgia Aquarium, along with other zoos and aquariums, work tirelessly to educate and inspire guests, while providing our otters the best veterinary and nutritional care. They are mammals without fur as adults. Learn More About Estate Planning. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Did you know that sea otters mate for life? In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. While the females are similarly much smaller than the males at 10-20 pounds, male river otters only reach a maximum size of around 30 pounds. Please try At Arctic Tundra we've created a habitat just like the grassy tundra near Point Hope, Alaska - and filled it with massive muskoxen. Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. African penguins are declining in part due to fluctuations in water temperature and increased storms on their breeding grounds. If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity - the threats they face in the wild. 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. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat.

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