River otters are excellent swimmers. The adult male weighs around 11.3 kg (25 lb); while the female weighs up to 8.3 kg (18 lb). Lontra (American river otters) Species: Lontra canadensis (North American river otter) Life Span: 8 – 9 years (wild) / ~21 years (zoo) Size: 2.6 – 4.3 feet (0.8 – 1.3 m) Height: 11.8 – 19.9 inches (30 – 51 cm) Weight: 11 – 31 pounds (5 – 14 kg) Fun Facts. The female litters one to six babies in thes underground burrows. Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae—a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and semi-aquatic forms such as weasels, badgers, skunks, fishers, minks, and river otters. River otter swims at a speed of 11 km/h (6.8 mph); and dive at a depth of 20 meters (22 yards). It lives in a den, which can be made in a riverside burrow, under rocks or plants, or in a beaver’s home (lodge). The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. The river otter is the best swimmer of the weasel family. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. River otters are extremely social and often frolic in the water with their mates or cubs, slide down hills on their bellies or wrestle with other otters on land. It weighs around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). Other important threats include habitat loss and degradation, illegal hunting, vehicle accidents, trapping, and entanglement in fishnets and lines. However, otters never eat bird eggs. Fun Facts for Kids North American otters are playful animals, and indulge in water play, mud/snow sliding, and burrowing through snow. GIANT OTTERS ARE SUPER CHATTY. However, the otter is being restored to places where it is regionally threatened, resulting in an otter come back in many places. More Mammals. (41 kilograms).The smallest otter is the Asian small-clawed otter, which grows up to 2.9 fee… The larger specimens with the weight of 15 kg (33 lb) are also found. North American River Otter The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Litter size may compose of 3 – 5 young (1 – 3 being an average). They can grow to over 5ft (1.5m) long. Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with … River otters are found in diverse habitats ranging from coastal marine waters such as inland wetlands, marshes, lakes, rivers, coastal shorelines to the freshwater streams. A river otter… North American River Otters are very playful creatures; this is why they are a favorite attraction for kids at zoos where they can often be observed playing games. The gestation period lasts for 61 – 63 days. The family unit of this otter … The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living. The primary foods for otters are aquatic invertebrates and aquatic insects. The otter closes its nostrils and small ears when submerged. Typical habitats include lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal shorelines. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. Wild otters typically live 8 or 9 years, but may live 13 years. A typical litter ranges from one to three pups, but as many as five pups may be born. These include game fishes, bass (Centrarchidae) suckers (Catostomidae), and shiners. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. They come in many sizes. In 2012 there were approximately 8,000 otters in Ohio. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. Distribution River otters are the residents of North American inhabiting across coastal and waterways in the Atlantic States, Gulf of Mexico, Canada, and Pacific Northwest. Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. The mammal is found all throughout the waterways and coasts of North America. It remains active all throughout the year and become increasingly active at night. Fun Facts - 30 Environmental Messages . The North American river otter lives along riverbanks, lakeshores, and coasts. Otters are playful, often wrestling or spending hours sliding down muddy or snow-packed stream banks. North American otters are capable to travel at a speed of 42 km (26 miles) per day. The males will mate with a female and leave to mate with other females leaving the female otter to raise the pup. Read More: How Many Sea Otters are Left in the World? Males also group together. Sensitive whiskers help navigate murky water in search of food or obstacles. It uses its long vibrissae (whiskers) to find prey in murky water. Females give birth and raise their pups without aid from their mates. Touch and body posture are often used in communication, along with a wide variety of vocal calls. Otters are highly susceptible to water pollution, including oil spills. The North American River Otter, for instance, is polygamous. The Basics The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. However, the largest population of these animals is found in the Great Lakes of North America. During winter, otters are active during the daytime. It grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) long. Likely, all of this "play" helps the otter to hone its skills as a skilled predator. River otters have very small eyes and flat head. The North American river otter (Lutra canadensis) is found in almost every state, including Virginia. They were once considered endangered in Illinois, but due to cleanups of our rivers and streams they have made a come back, and no longer are threatened. Offspring venture out on their own before their mother gives birth to her next litter. River otters are nocturnal and they come out in at night in the summer and spring seasons. Seeing a river otter in the wild is a sign of a healthy habitat, clean water, and one tough otter! They are known to travel up to 400 meters (440 yards) under water. The North American river otter is one of the most playful, curious, and active species of otter. The adult river otter has 36 teeth in total. Each pup weighs about 5 ounces. Identification. Basic Facts about the North American River Otter Its scientific name is Lontra canadensis. A member of the weasel family, the North American River Otter has a long body with short but strong legs. River otters (Lutra canadensis, Fig. It has a stocky … However, river otters are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) because the species may become endangered if trade is not closely regulated. The juveniles are blind and toothless at birth. ... 12 of which are listed as threatened or even endangered, our North American river otters are lucky. Reptiles and Amphibians | River Otter Facts. They are also fast on land, capable of running at up to 30 km/h (19 miles). These animals have boundless energy due to their very high metabolism. An otter can weigh anywhere from 11 to 30 pounds. River otter often play games and they chase one another in a game. North American river otters are social animals. River otters primarily feed on fish with the size ranges from 2 – 50 cm (0.79 – 20 inches) which is really necessary since fish is a great source for gaining calories. Basically, they’ll live wherever they can find food and water to swim in, but they’re sensitive to pollution so they won’t inhabit polluted waterways. In the wild they live up to 8 – 9 years with the maximum age of 13 years. Fun Facts. In warmer months, they are most active between dusk and dawn. They have streamlined bodies, fully webbed feet, and long, tapered tails that are thick at the base and flat on the bottom. Can otters use tools? It lives in a den, which can be made in a riverside burrow, under rocks or plants, or in a beaver’s home (lodge). The adult river otters are known to eat 1 – 1.5 kg (2.2 0 3.3 lb) of fish each day. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. Average Lifespan Wild: 8-9 years Captivity: 15-20 years Fun Facts The river otters do not dig their own den; they use habitats of other animals such as beavers instead. I am going to offer some of the most interesting and rarely known river otter facts and that includes river otter habitat, diet, reproduction, and behavior. They are found throughout most of North America – from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Meet Our River Otters Three North American River Otters, Linus, Calvin and Hobbes, reside in the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden (presented by KeyBank) at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. River otter’s diet also embraces redhorses, cubs, bullheads, catfish, darters, perches, sculpins, pike, salmon, trout, and pike. They are beginning to disappear from regions once considered as major habitats such as in New Mexico, Indiana Kansas, Arizona, South Dakota, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Ohio. It is recognized by its powerful neck... River otter reaches a length of about 66 – 107 cm (26 – 42 inches). The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. Common otter is the other name for this animal. It is a member of weasel family. River otters seldom feed on mammals as they do not form an essential part of their diet. Family: Mustelidae (weasels) in the order Carnivora. It can able to stay under water for about 4 minutes. River otters are hunted and trapped for their fur. Description. Some lives in the forested areas of Pacific coast of North America. They also play by nudging sticks across the water, and by dropping pebbles to the bottom and retrieving them. Both male and female becomes mature after two years of age. The North American river otter’s main prey is … They usually breed in the months of December to April. It has a stocky body, short legs, webbed feet, and a long tail. In the summer and spring seasons, river otters fancy eating amphibians including boreal chorus frogs, Canadian toads, wood frogs, bullfrogs, green frogs, rough-skinned newt, garter snakes, and Pacific giant salamander. River otters are subject to predators and disease, but human activities are their greatest threat. Raccoon Facts: Anatomy, Diet, Habitat, Behavior, First Horse Starter Kit – Equipment That You Need to Ride, Common Health Issues With Horses To Know The Signs Of, Woolly Rhino Facts | Anatomy, Diet, Habitat, Behavior. The North American river otter’s main prey is … It builds its habitat in the swamps, rivers, lakes, tidal flat and coastal shoreline; in the form of burrows. Otter fur is short and ranges in color from light brown to black. While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. Otters communicate by vocalization and scent marking. River otters live 21 to 25 years in captivity. They may travel as much as 26 miles in a single day. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. The young will open its eyes after 30 – 38 days and they will start eating solid food after 9 – 10 weeks. Fun facts. North American river otters have been trapped for their highly-prized furs, resulting in a steep decrease in population since the 1800s. They primarily communicate through auditory signals. Recent efforts to improve water quality and regulate hunting have restored wild populations. They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. The Internet connection is missing right now, but you're able to browse previously opened pages offline. 1) are best known for their continuous and playful behavior, their aesthetic value, and the value of their durable, high-quality fur.They have long, streamlined bodies, short legs, and a robust, tapered tail, all … North American river otters live near permanent watersheds throughout North America, from Alaska and northern Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico. Some common river … River otter reaches a length of about 66 – 107 cm (26 – 42 inches). River otters are carnivores that hunt fish, crustaceans, frogs, salamanders, waterfowl and their eggs, aquatic insects, reptiles, mollusks, and small mammals. The length of a tail measures around 30 – 50 cm (12 – 20 inches). Unlike many mustelids, river otters are more social animals. Otters are sexually dimorphic, with males about 5% larger than females. They have 57,800 hairs per square centimeter with the length of the hair measuring at 23.8 mm (0.94 inch). The North American river otter lives along riverbanks, lakeshores, and coasts. Fascinating Arctic Fox Facts (Vulpes lagopus), 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T12302A21936349.en, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. How Many Sea Otters are Left in the World? River otters are intelligent animals and they often like to play. The river otter is perfectly equipped for aquatic life. Embryo implantation is delayed. Otters living in captivity largely prefer to consume bigger fish with the size of 15 – 17 cm (5.9 – 6.7 inches). They typically use … A group of otters are called a 'bevy', 'family', 'lodge', or 'romp', or, when in water the group is called a … Females seek dens made by other animals for giving birth and raising young. On land they walk, run, or slide across surfaces. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Today, a large number of otters are found in the United States and Canada. For the most part, the species population is stable and otters are being reintroduced into areas from which they vanished. North American river otters are excellent swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to 8 minutes. The group is composed of an adult female and her progeny. While playing games, otters also learn some new techniques about fighting and hunting. Young otters play to learn survival skills. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. They live 10 to 15 years. White-tipped hairs are common in older otters. 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