We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. 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. 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. 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! Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? 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. Who will win? Sea otters are generally diurnal. They are mostly solitary but come together in groups to mate. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. At Georgia Aquarium, we are home to two species of otter Asian small-clawed ottersandsouthern sea otters. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Which would you like to know more about? This only gets creepier given the recent suggestion that dolphins actually have names that they call one another. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. Noun; A large body of salty water. They have flippers and do not have visible ears. And amorous males of various species, including the noble lion, kill infants to make their mothers available for breeding again. Their unique bodies make it easy to tell the creatures apart. Otters mainly feed on invertebrates while seals mainly feed on fish. In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. Its actually quite easy to understand the physical differences between sea otters and river otters once we understand that there is actually only one species of true sea otter. Some river otters can be found in wetlands and lakes. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Have some feedback for us? It is a grave mistake to see the so-called "depravity" of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. Please try However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. 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)! 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 are found in Eastern North and Northern Pacific Ocean. Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. 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. 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. This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). . With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! 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. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Without a doubt, dolphins are jerks. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. 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. It lives with its family for about a year. All otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. 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. If they cant keep them on their stomachs for some reason like if they are hunting, scientists have witnessed sea otters wrapping their young in kelp to keep them afloat while the mothers seek food. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. This goes both ways! Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. The webbed feet of a sea otter. If we truly wish to appreciate sea otters, dolphins, penguins, and the rest, we need to consider them as they truly are and not just as the cuddly caricatures that never cease to make us go Awww.. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. All rights reserved. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. Sea otters are bigger and thus have larger feet than river otters. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. 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. Sea otters have back feet that are larger than their front feet, and much larger than the feet of a river otter. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. Contact us today. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. (Major seas are known as oceans.) Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. There seems to be no crime too low for these penguins, he confided to his journal. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the ocean, while river otters spend their lives on land unless they need to hunt or travel elsewhere. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. River otters can be found in pairs, but they tend to spend time with other otters in a more casual way. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 Tax ID #23-7245152 Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. Parents can be as bad as siblings. 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 are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. 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. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. Sea otters are larger Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. 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. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. There are nearly 2,000 different species! A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. launchpad classlink nmusd; cantonese text to speech; 15 second tv commercial script examples Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. 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. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. Contact Us SeaQuest Blog difference between sea otter and penguin. 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 North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. 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. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. 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. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. 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. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. 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. 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. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! Young cattle egrets will peck and harass weaker siblings, going so far to push them out of the nest and to their doom. Male giant otters average 26 to 34 kg (57-75 lbs. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . For example, sea lions are sometimes believed to be seals, but that is not the case. 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. Sure, dolphins may now and then help fishermen looking to snag fish, but dolphins intelligence and social complexity have endowed them with a suite of behaviors that make them seem less adorable than their carefully-groomed theme park images suggest. But sea otters relationship with climate change goes two ways. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. The species are either aquatic or semi-aquatic depending on the species. 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. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. The sentiments about proper human behavior were impressed upon the penguins, and vice versa. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. Search. In Antarctica, the Adlie, chinstrap, and gentoo penguins flourished under warming that caused ice sheets to shrink. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. : They are huge eaters! Whats the Difference Between a Dolphin and Shark? RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. 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 . Otter belongs to the Mustelidae family while the seal belongs to the Phocidae family. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. Email Us, Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series, Special Status page for northern sea otter. 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. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). 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. nurse unit manager interview questions and answers australia. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. Seals and otters are easy to tell apart if you know where to look. 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. All of this is only the barest catalog of common and widespread phenomena in nature that we often shy away from examining, as we have great difficulty divorcing our own sense of morality from a wilderness that does not and cannot share our values. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. When seen for the first time, the Adlie penguin gives you the impression of a very smart little man. St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? There are over 70 different species of cetacean. River otters are smaller than sea otters in both length and weight. Southern sea otters are approximately four feet in length and weigh on average between 45-65 pounds. Free shipping for many products! Learn more. As Natural History Museum, London ornithologist Douglas Russell and colleagues reported in a preface to Levicks belatedly-released report, this behavior is so ingrained that when a researcher set out a dead penguin that had been frozen in such a position, many males found the corpse irresistible. In a bit of weird field work, the same researcher found that just the frozen head of the penguin, with self-adhesive white Os for eye rings, propped upright on wire with a large rock for a body, was sufficient stimulus for males to copulate and deposit sperm on the rock. I fear Ive just made the Socially Awkward Penguin seem just that much more socially awkward. Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. 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). Youll have a very simple time determining if you are looking at an otter from a true seal with one or two of those factors. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. Protect the Arctic from Future Oil Spills. The pups learn their mothers voice to avoid confusion of the mother feeding another seals pups. 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. The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. 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. Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. Unlike most other otter species, fish are not an important part of their diet. Graduating Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theatre and a specialization in creative writing, I have an invested interest in a variety of topics, particularly Pacific Northwest history. Its Easy To Do. 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! Not only do these two creatures have different habitats, but they have both evolved fur to best suit those habitats. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. 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. 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). 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! A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. 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. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. If dolphins really disappeared tomorrow, as in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series, I think their final message would be Screw You rather than the So Long, And Thanks for All the Fish farewell Douglas Adams imagined. Although both seals and otters come in various sizes due to their many species, seals are almost always larger than otters. This makes people think that it is the same animal. 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. 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. Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. Otters have paws and external ears while seals have flippers but do not have visible ears. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, its a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that its a sea otter. Their bodies and feet are also shaped very differently as well.