Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. 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. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. About Us 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. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. Not to worry, friends. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site by Thrive Web Designs, Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Sea otters are generally diurnal. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. 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! Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. 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. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! River otters can be found in pairs, but they tend to spend time with other otters in a more casual way. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. Without a doubt, dolphins are jerks. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? 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. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. 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. 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. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! 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. 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). The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. 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). Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. 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. 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. 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. 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. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. Sea otters have an average lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild while river otters live an average of 9-12 years. 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! difference between sea otter and penguin. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. The rehabilitated sea otters were released into an environment of intense competition and were at a disadvantage when it came time to find a mate. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. 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. They live in or near oceans. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. Have a question? St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. Dolphins kill other marine mammals and fish just for fun and commit infanticide. 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. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. All rights reserved. Please try again If you look closely at river otters, youll notice that they have short, coarse fur made up of two layers: one for keeping them warm, and another waterproof one outside of that. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. Theyre found along coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean ranging from California to Russia, and spend a majority of their time swimming, eating, and sleeping in saltwater. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. They feed on fish and shellfish. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. 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. If you find these critters as otterly . difference between sea otter and penguin. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. They are mostly solitary but come together in groups to mate. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. and weighing just 1 to 5 kg (2.2-11 lbs.). A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. Sea otters are larger For example, sea otters are much larger than river otters in both length and weight. 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. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. 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. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. It lives with its family for about a year. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! 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. 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 that's extremely dense and warm. YES! Otter belongs to the Mustelidae family while the seal belongs to the Phocidae family. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. 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. At Arctic Tundra we've created a habitat just like the grassy tundra near Point Hope, Alaska - and filled it with massive muskoxen. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. They are comparatively smaller in body size. Free shipping for many products! 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. The marine creatures also serve as fighters of climate change: their main preysea urchinslike to eat kelp, so by keeping the sea urchin population at a sustainable level, they keep kelp forests lush. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. Some river otters can be found in wetlands and lakes. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. 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. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. The webbed feet of a sea otter. 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.