Alaska sea otters are slightly larger than . It has "toes" on its feet. Although described as the smallest marine mammal this species is quite large as otters go, reaching as much as 80 lbs. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. At Arctic Tundra we've created a habitat just like the grassy tundra near Point Hope, Alaska - and filled it with massive muskoxen. 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. Asian Small-Clawed Otters have a classification of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List while Sea and Giant Otters are listed as Endangered as of today. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. Length of Lions Mane Jellyfish vs Blue Whale. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. 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. For if such awful displays occurred in nature, what might that say about our own actions? Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) can be split into two regional subspecies. 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. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. Noun; A large body of salty water. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. There are over 70 different species of cetacean. Dolphin Coast Presented by Margaritaville by Wyndham, Beginning Environmental Leadership Program, Next Up: Sea Lion Pup Born at Georgia Aquarium, Alliance of Marine Mammals Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), International Marine Animal Trainer's Association (IMATA). 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. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it's a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it's a sea otter. They spend their lives in water, and have many adaptations to their entirely aquatic lifestyle. Why are these male sea otters killing seals? They are mammals without fur as adults. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. 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). Not only is this useful for staying together, but it also keeps them away from the shore where many of their predators reside. They are one of the only mammals that use tools to help them hunt and feed, and they happen to have the densest fur of any other mammal on the planet. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. Learn More About Estate Planning. Search. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. You might think an otter is an otter, but hopefully, this article showed you that while two creatures can be called otters, they are very different. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. At Georgia Aquarium, guests can see our southern sea otters in ourCold Water Questgallery and our Asian small-clawed otters in ourSouthern Company River Scoutgallery. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. The limbs are modified into flippers. Both types of otters need their coats to form a layer of insulation that traps air to keep them warm, and they certainly need it when areas like the Pacific dip to chilly temperatures that are often between 35 and 60 (and even lower than that as you move up the coast toward Alaska and Canada)! Free shipping for many products! Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. They are comparatively larger in body size. Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. Otter and seals belong to different families. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Copyright 2023. when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. 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. River otters and sea otters might be similar in name, but these two different classifications and populations are actually quite different in many ways, in the same way dogs have different breeds. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. 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! While a southern sea otters fur maintains heat well in the cold water, their metabolism must work quickly to help keep the animal warm. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? They are also known as fin-footed mammals. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. 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. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Not to worry, friends. Today, were in round two of the Sweet Sixteen, and the winners of our Fins and Flippers division are going head to head. 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. They are comparatively smaller in body size. And always keep in mind where youre looking if youre at the ocean, chances are youre looking at a sea otter as opposed to a river otter. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the. Its Easy To Do. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. The North American River Otter has an average lifespan of 13 years in the wild, but up to 25 years in captivity. 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. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. Have some feedback for us? In terms of colours, seals have thick fur coats that range from pale yellow to light grey and dark brown. (label) A large number or quantity; a vast amount.A sea of faces stared back at the singer. 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. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they arent spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. Theyre even known to wrap their babies in kelp to keep them safe and warm while theyre off hunting, and as the Marine Mammal Center describes, these pups end up bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean like little corks! The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. We shouldnt draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior that make us cringe, as Levick did when he coded some of his Adlie penguin notes in Greek and ultimately decided not to publish his findings. Inside pregnant sand tiger sharks, for example, the first embryo to grow large enough rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks in its shared womb. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. Rather than being deviant, the behaviors were a regular part of penguin life, triggered by males associating a rather flexible interpretation of a females mating posture with receptiveness. 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 largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. They give birth on the land. They eat 15% of their body weight a day. Algae vs Seaweed: What is the Difference? Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. Seals are marine mammals in the Phocidae family. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. 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. 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 are part of the weasel family. YES! Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. There are only 450 left in the world. Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. Sea otters have an average lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild while river otters live an average of 9-12 years. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. Read the rules here. Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. They display sexual dimorphism. Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. 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). 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. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26-37 in.) 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. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Adult males weigh average about 700 pounds and 7 feet in length while females are a bit smaller at 250 pounds and 6 feet in length. The pups learn their mothers voice to avoid confusion of the mother feeding another seals pups. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. There was nothing obviously wrong with these rehabbed otters, but the trouble they experienced early in their lives might have made them more likely assailants. 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. difference between sea otter and penguin. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. Which would you like to know more about? Did You Know. Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! 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. launchpad classlink nmusd; cantonese text to speech; 15 second tv commercial script examples Not to mention that we nearly eradicated sea otters out of lust for their pelts, and we continue to keep dolphins confined in small, hard-walled, unhealthy environments for nothing more than our amusement. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. The sea otters legs arent made for walking, like river otters are, but for constant swimming. hold hands with other otters so they dont drift apart, Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, Weight: 10lbs-99lbs Length: 2ft-6ft, Blubber deposits under the skin keep true seals warm, -Dense fur that has two layers, guard hairs, and insulating underfur, Spend equal amounts of time on land and in the water, Spend the vast majority of their time in the water. If you find these critters as otterly . But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. 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. Elsewhere in Slate, read Jessica Winters essay about her dying cat, an excerpt from Jon Katzs new book about a Rottweiler in need of rescuing, and Jason Bittels thorough investigation into bat sex. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. Their unique bodies make it easy to tell the creatures apart. : They are huge eaters! River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Male bottlenose dolphins will sometimes team up to target a single female and harass her persistently, forcing her to mate with them despite her attempts to escape. Still, these two mammals are very different from one another. In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. North American River Otter Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. Not only do these two creatures have different habitats, but they have both evolved fur to best suit those habitats. They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. Vote below. There are about 33 species in this family. Otters mainly feed on invertebrates while seals mainly feed on fish. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. 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. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. African penguins are declining in part due to fluctuations in water temperature and increased storms on their breeding grounds. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different families. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. The elephant seal can weigh up to 6,000lbs and grows 20ft long. 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. Since southern sea otters are found in cooler waters, its important for their fur to be able to insulate them from the weather. Well, they do. The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. There are nearly 2,000 different species! 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. Did you know that sea otters mate for life? Two out of those three species are now in decline. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. nurse unit manager interview questions and answers australia. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity - the threats they face in the wild. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. 2. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. Im not saying any of this to put down these animals. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. Sea otters are bigger and thus have larger feet than river otters. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. 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. Otters have webbed paws instead of flippers, visible external ears, and a long, thin tail that is easy to spot. The North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. 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. Both are good swimmers but when we compare the two, the seals win because of their streamlined bodies and flippers that enable them to move in water fast. A sea otter can grow to be up to 4 feet long, while a river otter only grows to be about 2.5 feet long. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. At least two of the sea otters had been previously held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of their rehabilitation program for stranded and injured otters. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. 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. While sea otters use their two webbed hind feet and tail to propel them through the water, the four webbed feet of river otters are what enable them to swim efficiently. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. 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 . The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. 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. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.