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. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. In terms of colours, seals have thick fur coats that range from pale yellow to light grey and dark brown. Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. They are comparatively larger in body size. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. . Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different families. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. 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. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. Seahorse: Last time we talked about seahorses, we mentioned their fragile coastal ecosystemscoral reefs and mangroves, for instance, are especially vulnerable to disturbances brought on by warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased flooding. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Peregrine FalconDay 104/1: TBDDay 114/2: TBDDay 124/3: THE FINAL FOUR: TBDDay 134/6: THE CHAMPIONSHIP: TBD, PAST ROUNDS:Round 7: Sweet Sixteen, part 2Round 6: Sweet Sixteen, part 1Round 5: Shells and WingsRound 4: Horns and HoovesRound 3: Fins and FlippersRound 2: Paws and Claws, part 2Round 1: Paws and Claws, part 1, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. 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. difference between sea otter and penguinups insurance cost calculator. . Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Algae vs Seaweed: What is the Difference? 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. Whats the Difference Between a Dolphin and Shark? Additionally, river otters have a very different social structure from sea otters, often preferring solitude over a sea otters committed family structure. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. 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. If you find these critters as otterly . Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. 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. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. For as cute as they are while intertwining paws at an aquarium, frolicking among the wafting fronds of California kelp forests, or smashing sea urchins open with stones, some sea otters have developed the disturbing habit of humping and drowning baby seals. The notion that sea otters fall in love and hold hands in the ocean so that they dont drift away from one another is a foreign concept to a river otter! River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. Delivered in the scientific deadpan required of such papers, the Aquatic Mammals report attributes the incidents to three male sea otters observed harassing, dragging, guarding, and copulating with harbor seals, persisting for up to seven days after the otters killed the objects of their misguided advances. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? All rights reserved. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) can be split into two regional subspecies. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by The naturalistic fallacy refers to the misguided belief that whatever is natural is good. Copyright 2023. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. On the other hand, there are 12 different species of river otter found around the world, from the North American river otter to the Japanese river otter to the Asian small-clawed otter. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. 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). With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. Otters have long bodies and short legs, while seals have shorter bodies and longer flippers. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called "depravity" of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. River otters build dens on the riverbanks and care for their young there. What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. 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. are about 33 species in this family. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. 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. There are only 450 left in the world. 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. 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). There are 13 species of otters in the world, with 12 of those species requiring access to freshwater and only one species residing in the ocean. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. The one exception to these rules is the Marine otter (Lontra felina) these otters are the only species of otter outside the Sea otter that reside in and around saltwater environments. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. Who will win? They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. 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. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. difference between sea otter and penguin. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. 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. 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. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. 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. 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. Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. difference between sea otter and penguin. 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. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". 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. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. 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. 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. River otters have a thick, lustrous coat that keeps them warm. 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. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Read the rules here. Sea otters typically give birth to only one pup, and care for their young until they become independent around eight months to one year old. There are about 33 species in this family. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. As the smallest species of otter, they range in size from 4.4 to 11 pounds, with a body length of only 16 to 24 inches, which makes them half the length of a southern sea otter! But sea otters relationship with climate change goes two ways. 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. Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. This goes both ways! In Antarctica, the Adlie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins flourished under warming that caused ice sheets to shrink. The most common seal in the Arctic, the ringed seal is the smallest of the seal species. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. The sea otter does, however, have a shorter tail than the river otter. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. North American River Otters weigh between 10 pounds to 25 pounds and grow up to 3 feet in length. 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. Otter and seals belong to different families. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. Additionally, sea otters spend the vast majority of their lives in the water, while river otters spend most of theirs on land, venturing into the water for tasks like hunting for food and traveling. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 Tax ID #23-7245152 Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. Have a question? Their hind feet are webbed to aid in swimming, and their front toes are short and stiff. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. 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. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. Southern sea otters are approximately four feet in length and weigh on average between 45-65 pounds. 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! 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. The sea otters legs arent made for walking, like river otters are, but for constant swimming. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Contact Us There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. Male giant otters average 26 to 34 kg (57-75 lbs. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Well, they do. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger 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. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. Habitat degradation due to development and accidental bycatch from shrimp and fishing vessels also endanger these charismatic creatures. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. Please try again As Douglas and colleagues stressed in their preface to Levicks report, though, the behavior [displayed by hooligan males] is clearly not analogous to necrophilia in the human context. That fact can easily be lost when one is appalled by an animal acting out a human taboo.