Sea otters are not nearly so versatile. Thanks Don – great blog. It is illegal to have an otter in most states. The otter has a long cylindrical body with a powerful tail, making it ideal for life in the water. A sea otter! The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. As their name suggests, sea otters live mainly near the sea, spending most of their time in the water. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Are both types of otters in the same family? The last little guy of the group was having a heck of a time getting into the culvert and was starting to get pretty stressed about being left behind by his siblings. The fur is a rich brown, moderately short, and very dense. Their tails are short and not as muscular as river otters. Almost always swim in a dog paddle, almost never swim on their backs. They had just had a very successful fishing trip and were busily devouring a bunch of little flounders or sand dabs. Reports now state that otters inhabit every county in the UK – great news for the otter! An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Thank you, it really was an amazing experience and I will definitely be back to see you guys and the Otters! Sea otters are twice the size of river otters, and are never far from the ocean. Gerry Lunn Exactly except those that frequent bays… you know what those are called. Otters have more of a curved form in the water, with most of the body and tail riding just beneath the surface. Sea otters: Dark brown with a much lighter head. Give a sea otter gift package. more Meet a man whose roommates are a pair of river otters. I tried to explain that they were just gulls, and that the term "seagull" was invented to apply to those gull species that frequented the sea … you see? Sea otters: Dark brown with a much lighter head. Over the past few years however, we have had the exciting chance to view true sea otters near Victoria, as an increase in their population has brought them closer to home. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. Please try Thank you for solving this mystery. River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Description The otter is the largest member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) found in South Carolina. They are 95% aquatic and spend pretty much their entire lives in kelp beds just off the sea shore a kilometre or two. I'll share a video below, you can also find several on Youtube. Its height at the shoulder is about 10 inches. Identification. My name is Don Enright. An otter's tail is long and tapered, thickest where it joins the body and furred its entire length. River otter fur ranges from light to dark, rich brown. Awesome article, thanks! But river otters never got the memo about being river otters. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. One of the rituals that river otters are known for is something called the "otter poop dance." Well hello Réjeanne! The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Otters have five toes and the heel pad tends to be somewhat horseshoe shaped. 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. Fluffy fur and husky profile. Mobile alerts from Ocean Conservancy. Periodic messages. Very often swim on their backs. 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. Each is playful, curious and depends on water for it's food source. The German word for otter is "fischotter" which is a much more sensible name than "river otter." I was just at dogbeach at Vanier Park and 5 “river otters” swam by, stopped to watch the idiot labradors, inluding mine, chasing balls. I write about interpretation and visitor experience. You can find many an otter not in a river. All the other mammals that otters might be confused with don't snort like that. We wonder how he or they survive, what they live on, etc beaver vs Muskrat comparison whose are... How much larger sea otters: Dark brown with a distinct, not unpleasant smell, and you also! Sustain fish stocks and wildlife rarely venture on land is somewhat clumsy, but river in... 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