(41 kilograms).The smallest otter is the Asian small-clawed otter, which grows up to 2.9 fee… The North American river otter's body is built for streamlined swimming. River Otter (Lutra canadensis)What they look like: The River Otter is built for swimming - they have a streamlined body, short legs with webbed feet, dense fur that keeps them warm, a tapered tail, small ears, and nostrils that can close underwater. However, the largest population of these animals is found in the Great Lakes of North America. Otters communicate by vocalization and scent marking. They sometimes eat fruit, but avoid carrion. 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 … Although largely exterminated in the Midwest, reintroduction programs are helping river otters reclaim part of their original range. However, the otter is being restored to places where it is regionally threatened, resulting in an otter come back in many places. Otter fur is short and ranges in color from light brown to black. River otter often play games and they chase one another in a game. Some common river … River otters are excellent swimmers. River otters primarily prey on fish, crayfish, turtles and amphibians, and rarely birds. Typical habitats include lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal shorelines. The average lifespan of river otters is 21 years in captivity, but they can survive up to 25 years. Let's take a closer look at this playful creature. There are 13 species of otters, in seven genera, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Seeing a river otter in the wild is a sign of a healthy habitat, clean water, and one tough otter! During winter, otters are active during the daytime. Other important threats include habitat loss and degradation, illegal hunting, vehicle accidents, trapping, and entanglement in fishnets and lines. River otters are hunted and trapped for their fur. Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with … North American river otters can reach a length of 3.9 ft and weigh 3 lbs. 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. 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. These animals have boundless energy due to their very high metabolism. They live in riparian zones, which are the areas that border stream, rivers, and lakes. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Like sea otters, river otters also display thickest furs that ensure a limited heat loss. Read More: Why are Sea Otters Endangered? North American otters are capable to travel at a speed of 42 km (26 miles) per day. 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. In warmer months, they are most active between dusk and dawn. Fun Facts. Touch and body posture are often used in communication, along with a wide variety of vocal calls. People also call it North American river otter. 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. The male river otters are not territorial. They have 57,800 hairs per square centimeter with the length of the hair measuring at 23.8 mm (0.94 inch). Males weigh up to 90 lbs. ... 12 of which are listed as threatened or even endangered, our North American river otters are lucky. River otters are subject to predators and disease, but human activities are their greatest threat. Read More: How Many Sea Otters are Left in the World? Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. It can able to stay under water for about 4 minutes. River otters (Lutra canadensis, Fig. Their basic social unit consists of an adult female and her offspring. They take advantage of any slippery slope for fun, whether it's … They are known to travel up to 400 meters (440 yards) under water. River otters live 21 to 25 years in captivity. They are also fast on land, capable of running at up to 30 km/h (19 miles). They typically use … River otters use their tails as rudder while swimming. North American river otters are excellent swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to 8 minutes. North American river otters weigh 11 to 31 pounds and range from 26 to 42 inches long plus a 12 to 20 inch tail. The Internet connection is missing right now, but you're able to browse previously opened pages offline. The North American river otter lives along riverbanks, lakeshores, and coasts. Likely, all of this "play" helps the otter to hone its skills as a skilled predator. This distinction goes to the sea otter. Sadly speaking, pollution and urbanizations have led to the decrease in river otter population. North American river otters breed between December and April. The river otter's life expectancy is 10 to 15 years in the wild and 25 years in captivity. River otter reaches a length of about 66 – 107 cm (26 – 42 inches). It is a member of weasel family. However, not many species play games. River otters are intelligent animals and they often like to play. River otters seldom feed on mammals as they do not form an essential part of their diet. 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. Facts About the North American River Otter. A typical litter ranges from one to three pups, but as many as five pups may be born. Wild otters typically live 8 or 9 years, but may live 13 years. A professional writer and a passionate wildlife enthusiast, who is mostly found hooked to his laptop or in libraries researching about the wildlife. They live 10 to 15 years. The North American river otter lives along riverbanks, lakeshores, and coasts. The North American river otter (Lutra canadensis) is found in almost every state, including Virginia. Can otters use tools? Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. A group of otters are called a 'bevy', 'family', 'lodge', or 'romp', or, when in water the group is called a … The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. 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. The Basics The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. Description. The North American river otter’s main prey is … 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. The young will become independent after six months. The length of a tail measures around 30 – 50 cm (12 – 20 inches). Crayfish makes up one-third of the otters diet. They come in many sizes. The adult river otters are known to eat 1 – 1.5 kg (2.2 0 3.3 lb) of fish each day. It has a stocky … While playing games, otters also learn some new techniques about fighting and hunting. The North American river otter is one of the most playful, curious, and active species of otter. 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. 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 male weighs around 11.3 kg (25 lb); while the female weighs up to 8.3 kg (18 lb). Mammals include eastern cottontails, snowshoe hares, and meadow voles. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. The adult river otter has 36 teeth in total. For the most part, the species population is stable and otters are being reintroduced into areas from which they vanished. They produce a growl-like sound which is often heard while they are in pain. The playful North American river otter is well adapted for semi-aquatic living. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. 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. Litter size may compose of 3 – 5 young (1 – 3 being an average). Sliding and wrestling, belly flopping, and somersaulting, river otters really know how to play! Otters are playful, often wrestling or spending hours sliding down muddy or snow-packed stream banks. In the past, river otters declined due to illegal trapping, water pollution and poor habitat quality. It grows from 4.9 to 5.9 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters) long. North American River Otter The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Fun facts. 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. Lontra canadensis. Sensitive whiskers help navigate murky water in search of food or obstacles. River otters are highly frolicsome, spirited and lively creatures. The North American River Otter, for instance, is polygamous. The weight of a North American river otter measures around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). River otters are carnivores that hunt fish, crustaceans, frogs, salamanders, waterfowl and their eggs, aquatic insects, reptiles, mollusks, and small mammals. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Females seek dens made by other animals for giving birth and raising young. In contrast to the European otter, the North American river otter has a longer neck and narrower face. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), or the common otter, is an aquatic mammal native to only North America in the countries Canada, and the United States.River otters are a distant relative of the weasel family. River otters are very sensitive to environmental pollution. However, otters never eat bird eggs. Family: Mustelidae (weasels) in the order Carnivora. They eat fish, amphibians, turtles and crayfish. They have streamlined bodies, fully webbed feet, and long, tapered tails that are thick at the base and flat on the bottom. Reptiles and Amphibians | River Otter Facts. It has a stocky body, short legs, webbed feet, and a long tail. It weighs around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). Identification. The sightless and nearly helpless young are usually born in the months of March and May. It lives in a den, which can be made in a riverside burrow, under rocks or plants, or in a beaver’s home (lodge). It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. The North American river otter’s main prey is … Young otters play to learn survival skills. Otters living in captivity largely prefer to consume bigger fish with the size of 15 – 17 cm (5.9 – 6.7 inches). Each pup weighs about 5 ounces. Females are 5 per cent smaller as compared to males. Otters are sexually dimorphic, with males about 5% larger than females. Embryo implantation is delayed. They primarily communicate through auditory signals. In 2012 there were approximately 8,000 otters in Ohio. River otters live in many different kinds of water throughout North America, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and coastal shorelines and marshes. How Many Sea Otters are Left in the World? It remains active all throughout the year and become increasingly active at night. Playful Animals. Today, a large number of otters are found in the United States and Canada. On land they walk, run, or slide across surfaces. The IUCN classifies North American river otter conservation status as "least concern." The group is composed of an adult female and her progeny. The juveniles will wean from their mother’s milk in around 10 – 14 weeks. River Otter Facts The weight of a North American river otter measures around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). They can grow to over 1.5m (5ft) long. The larger specimens with the weight of 15 kg (33 lb) are also found. River otter swims at a speed of 11 km/h (6.8 mph); and dive at a depth of 20 meters (22 yards). The primary foods for otters are aquatic invertebrates and aquatic insects. Females give birth and raise their pups without aid from their mates. Around one-third of an otter’s body is composed of a tail. 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. They build burrows abandoned by other animals including beavers, muskrats, and woodchucks. The river otters do not dig their own den; they use habitats of other animals such as beavers instead. They have short legs, webbed feet for faster swimming, and a long, narrow body and flattened head for streamlined movement in the water. Males are larger in size than females (see photos). It is recognized by its powerful neck and elongated body. Average Lifespan Wild: 8-9 years Captivity: 15-20 years Fun Facts The family unit of this otter … Otters are highly susceptible to water pollution, including oil spills. The young will open its eyes after 30 – 38 days and they will start eating solid food after 9 – 10 weeks. River otters are polygynous. Though it is the largest, it isn’t the heaviest. Both male and female becomes mature after two years of age. It is recognized by its powerful neck... River otter reaches a length of about 66 – 107 cm (26 – 42 inches). They also play by nudging sticks across the water, and by dropping pebbles to the bottom and retrieving them. 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. 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. Otters pose no threat to humans, but in rare cases they have been known to attack dogs. North American river otters have been trapped for their highly-prized furs, resulting in a steep decrease in population since the 1800s. 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. river-otter22.jpg. They can grow to over 5ft (1.5m) long. North American river otters are social animals. In certain areas, river otters rely on birds for their consumption and these birds include green-winged, teal, mallard, ruddy ducks, American coot, American wigeon, waterfowls, rails, and northern pintail. North American river otters are highly mobile and have the capacity of traveling up to 42 km (26 mi) in one day. The river otter is perfectly equipped for aquatic life. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family. North American river otters reach sexual maturity at two years of age. GIANT OTTERS ARE SUPER CHATTY. The river otter is the best swimmer of the weasel family. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Basic Facts about the North American River Otter Its scientific name is Lontra canadensis. Fun Facts: The river otter is non-territorial, but it still marks around its home range using feces and urine as … The North American river otter's body is built for streamlined swimming. The female litters one to six babies in thes underground burrows. The largest otter is the giant otter. 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. The mammals have thick, protective fur to help them keep warm while swimming in cold waters. How Important is Fiber in Your Dog’s Diet? In the wild they live up to 8 – 9 years with the maximum age of 13 years. 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