Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Found in both saltwater and freshwater, a river otter lounges around riverbanks and swims with its belly down, keeping the majority of its body submerged below the water. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. 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. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. Rocky Shores & Arctic Tundra - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium 8 Difference Between Otter and Seal (With Table) More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. Marine mammals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the ocean, while river otters spend their lives on land unless they need to hunt or travel elsewhere. are about 33 species in this family. Rhinoceros Facts Lion Facts Elephant Facts Giraffe Facts Flamingo Facts Chimpanzee Facts Penguin Facts Panda Facts Python Facts Great White Shark Facts Tiger Facts Skunk Facts Seal Facts Sea Turtle Facts Porcupine Facts Panther Facts Ostrich Facts Komodo Dragon Facts Hippopotamus Facts . Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. There are only 450 left in the world. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. union county latest news The dark sides of otters, dolphins, and penguins are just as much a part of their nature as the parts we find so squee-inducingly adorable. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. Sea otters are larger than river otters. Without a doubt, dolphins are jerks. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. Known as Pygoscelis adeliae to scientists, and as the Socially Awkward Penguin through memes, the Adlie penguin was one of the subjects that caught the attention of scientist George Murray Levick while he ventured to the South Pole with the 1910-13 Scott Antarctic Expedition. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. Contact Us Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Otter and seals belong to different families. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Youll have a very simple time determining if you are looking at an otter from a true seal with one or two of those factors. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Which would you like to know more about? 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. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. As their name suggests, sea otters are adorable mammals that barely leave their saltwater homes. 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. 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. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. There are nearly 2,000 different species! The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. Asian small-clawed otters have relatively short hair that consists of two layers a coarse, waterproof outer coat and a softer, finer layer that is used for warmth. What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. They feed on fish and shellfish. Copyright 2023. They have short limbs with webbed feet. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). Learn More About Estate Planning. Seal Vs Otter: What Are the Differences? - AZ Animals Lastly, seals use blubber under their thick skin to keep them warm when they spend time in the water, but otters have dense, two-layered fur that keeps them insulated. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. At Rocky Shores you can explore a far Northwest world where land and ocean meet; where sea lions dive, seals splash and otters play. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. 2. They eat 15% of their body weight a day. What Is The Difference Between Snow Otters And Sea Otters YES! The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. Vote below. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Otters and seals have many things in common. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. Theyre both known for spending a lot of time in the water, something that is unusual for mammals that dont spend their entire lives in water. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. 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. 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). River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? American Oceans, Quick Facts: Bioluminescence & What Causes It. Among birds, parents under stress to provide for their offspring during rough years may boot eggs from their nests or kill some of their own chicks so that others might survive. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. In 2010, California Department of Fish and Game biologist Heather Harris and colleagues reported 19 individual cases of male sea otters trying to mate with, and often fatally injuring, harbor seal pups in the Monterey Bay, Calif. area between 2000 and 2002 alone. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Male sea otters typically grasp the female from behind and bite her face, and this rough behavior was associated with the deaths of about 11 percent of dead sea otters discovered between 2000 and 2003. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! What is natural is not inherently good or evil: It simply is, and wed be fools to take such examples as models of right or wrong. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. and weighing just 1 to 5 kg (2.2-11 lbs.). Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. Individual Behavior Grooming. Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. Not only is this useful for staying together, but it also keeps them away from the shore where many of their predators reside. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. On average, river otters have two to three pups per litter with the pups going off on their own after about six months to a year. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. asia deep blue crete menu . 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. 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. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. It has "toes" on its feet. 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. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. The Northern sea otter and the Southern sea otter, but in actuality, this is the one and only species of otter that is a lifelong ocean-dweller. Although both seals and otters come in various sizes due to their many species, seals are almost always larger than otters. Whether youre sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. Keep reading to learn more about what makes each of these species unique. Their hind feet are webbed to aid in swimming, and their front toes are short and stiff. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. The most common seal in the Arctic, the ringed seal is the smallest of the seal species. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. 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. They are comparatively larger in body size. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). If a male cant find a mate because of his youth or inability to chase off competitors, Harris and co-authors suggest, he might search for a female surrogate that may take the form of a young otter or, as in their study, seal pups. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct.
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