Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. 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. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. 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. American Oceans, Quick Facts: Bioluminescence & What Causes It. Wannabe mother primates may steal the baby of another and unintentionally starve that infant in a phenomenon called aunting to death. Dominant wild dogs may kill the offspring of subordinate members of the pack to make sure the alphas infants get the most food. Im not saying any of this to put down these animals. 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. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Although both seals and otters come in various sizes due to their many species, seals are almost always larger than otters. This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. They are mammals without fur as adults. again or contact 1.888.780.6763, Learning From and Standing With Climate Justice Communities, Senior Policy Analyst, Fish Conservation Program, Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. If you find these critters as otterly . Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? There seems to be no crime too low for these penguins, he confided to his journal. Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. 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. 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. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. The average river otter only weighs 15-20 pounds, while sea otters can reach anywhere from 20-80 pounds depending on their gender and age. Its Easy To Do. Otters and seals have many things in common. Learn more. They live in or near oceans. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. 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. nurse unit manager interview questions and answers australia. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. 2Lemur vs. Koala; Panda vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Koala and Wolverine.Day 33/23: Fins and FlippersSea Lion vs. Sea Horse; Penguin vs. Manatee; Walrus vs. Sea Otter; Whale vs. Salmon (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter, Whale, and Penguin.Day 43/24: Horns and HoovesElephant vs. Horned Lizard; Rhino vs. Narwhal; Saola vs. Moose; Mountain Goat vs. Reindeer (voting closed) WINNERS: Elephant, Narwhal, Moose, and Mountain Goat.Day 53/25: Shells and WingsSea Turtle vs. Pelican; Sage Grouse vs. The identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. River otters will achieve maturity between the ages of two and three, while female sea otters mature between ages three and five, and males even later between ages five and seven. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . Otter endangered status varies by species and location. It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. Get Out Your Green & Gold! 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. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean its a sea otter. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. Thank you for visiting! Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Since southern sea otters are found in cooler waters, its important for their fur to be able to insulate them from the weather. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. 2022 Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA. Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. 2. Terms & Conditions. As their name suggests, sea otters are adorable mammals that barely leave their saltwater homes. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. Sea otters are larger than river otters. Peregrine Falcon; Oyster vs. Butterfly; Lobster vs. Red Knot (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Turtle, Falcon, Butterfly, Red Knot.Day 63/26: Polar Bear vs. Pangolin; Koala vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear, Wolverine.Day 73/27: Sea Horse vs. Whale; Sea Otter vs. Penguin (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter.Day 83/30: Elephant vs. Mountain Goat; Moose vs. Narwhal (voting NOW OPEN)Day 93/31: Sea Turtle vs. Red Knot; Butterfly vs. Animals Differences and Comparison for Kids. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). The Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. Thats quite the size difference! But sea otters relationship with climate change goes two ways. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. 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. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. While it may seem obvious at first, you may not know all of the differences between a river otter vs sea otter. With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. The elephant seal can weigh up to 6,000lbs and grows 20ft long. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. 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.