are about 33 species in this family. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Have a question? This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. W178 CENTEX Centex Charmyland Saru Gorilla Sea Otter Walrus Penguin Well, they do. Otter vs. Seal: What's the Difference? - SeaQuest The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. Sea otters are hardly the only marine animals to behave in ways that make us cringe. Nevertheless, seals tend to be much larger than otters. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Today, were in round two of the Sweet Sixteen, and the winners of our Fins and Flippers division are going head to head. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. The Asian small-clawed otter is "slimmer" and smaller, with smooth fur and a face that looks like it is smiling. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. Contact Us 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. Spot the difference: Asian small-clawed otter, sea otter and beaver Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. On average, seals are larger than otters. 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! Its Easy To Do. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Protect the Arctic from Future Oil Spills. 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! 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. Learn more. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) can be split into two regional subspecies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. The newborn is taken care of by the males, females, and other offspring. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. 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 eat 15% of their body weight a day. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). They are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. 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. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! Some seals have fur, but they are not considered true seals. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. 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, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. The Northern sea otter and the Southern sea otter, but in actuality, this is the one and only species of otter that is a lifelong ocean-dweller. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. 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. Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. 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. 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)! Animals Differences and Comparison for Kids. 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. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. 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. Marine mammals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. 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. Found in both saltwater and freshwater, a river otter lounges around riverbanks and swims with its belly down, keeping the majority of its body submerged below the water. The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. 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. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Sea Otter Vs River Otter (9 Key Differences) - Wildlife Informer SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. River Otters | Seattle Aquarium Asian Small-Clawed Otters will live around 12 years in captivity but lifespan in the wild is really unknown, with an estimated number of 5,000 left in the world. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. 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. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. 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. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. 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. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. 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. With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. 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. Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. There are 13 species of otters. Which would you like to know more about? Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. RETWEET for Whale or FAVE for Sea Horse #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/WPiCEtbbDt, ***TOURNAMENT UPDATES:Day 13/19: Paws and Claws pt. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. They entirely depend on meat for survival. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. (label) A large number or quantity; a vast amount.A sea of faces stared back at the singer.