Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. In addition to this, once you know the fundamentals of what to look for, its quite easy to differentiate whether or not an otter is a sea otter or a river otter one is large and fluffy and the other is small and streamlined. 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. difference between sea otter and penguin. difference between sea otter and penguin. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, River Otter vs Sea Otter: 5 Key Differences. The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . Parents can be as bad as siblings. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. how to cancel quizlet subscription; denver criminal court docket; cody and caleb martin salary; how to remove a backwards bullet from the chamber The limbs are modified into flippers. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. They feed on fish and shellfish. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. Thank you for reading! But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Trash Free Seas, Trash Free Seas Alliance, Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Urban Ocean and Clean Swell are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy. Some river otters can be found in wetlands and lakes. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. Who will you choose? Heres a quick snapshot of just some of the otter and seal species size ranges: Asian Small Clawed Otters are the smallest species of otter. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. Additionally, river otters have a very different social structure from sea otters, often preferring solitude over a sea otters committed family structure. 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. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity - the threats they face in the wild. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. 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. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. 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. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. 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. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. 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. Their unique bodies make it easy to tell the creatures apart. 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. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. 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 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. 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. Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Individual Behavior Grooming. You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. Nevertheless, seals tend to be much larger than otters. 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. As their name suggests, sea otters live in the sea! Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Such behavior led ornithologist Douglas Mock and colleagues to write Occasionally, the pen of natural selection writes a murder mystery on the pages of evolution. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Though most species occur in cold-water environments. 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. Male seals can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 600 pounds, while otters are much smaller and typically reach up to 3 feet long and weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. Sea otters are bigger and thus have larger feet than river otters. To meet the wonderful sloths that call SeaQuest home, book your visit today at any of the following locations: Utah, Las Vegas, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Sacramento, Minneapolis, Connecticut, Lynchburg, New Jersey, and Atlanta. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. The North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. If you find these critters as otterly . Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). Hindflippers rotate underneath to allow them to walk on land, Swim underwater using foreflippers like wings of a bird, Move on land by wiggling on belly and keep hindflippers straight out, Swim by steering with foreflippers and powering with hindflippers, All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. River otters also eat a different diet when compared to sea otters. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. Its as easy as that! Vote in the embedded tweets below, on Twitter with the hashtag #CPMarchSadness, or on our Facebook page. 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. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. There are over 70 different species of cetacean. 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. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. 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! 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. Have a question? Please try again
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. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. difference between sea otter and penguin. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. They have short limbs with webbed feet. . An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. There are only 450 left in the world. To meet the wonderful sloths that call SeaQuest home, book your visit today at any of the following locations: Best Birthday Party Places in Fort Worth! For whichever animal wins, ClimateProgress will write a feature-length article exploring the story behind whats ailing your chosen critter, and who is working to save them. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. For if such awful displays occurred in nature, what might that say about our own actions? The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. For males, the difference is also significant a southern male grows up to 70 pounds while a northern male can reach up to 100 pounds! For example, sea lions are sometimes believed to be seals, but that is not the case. YES! Not only is this useful for staying together, but it also keeps them away from the shore where many of their predators reside. 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. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. 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. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. Free shipping for many products! What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? Habitat degradation due to development and accidental bycatch from shrimp and fishing vessels also endanger these charismatic creatures. Two out of those three species are now in decline. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. Some seals have fur, but they are not considered true seals. There are so many amazing creatures that dwell in the waters of planet earth, and some of may seem so similar in nature, yet they are difficult to tell apart. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Thats quite the size difference! Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. The rehabilitated sea otters were released into an environment of intense competition and were at a disadvantage when it came time to find a mate.