2. They are not very graceful on land because of their flippers, but they manage to move very well in the water. Contact Us Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. 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. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. But sea otters relationship with climate change goes two ways. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Copyright 2023. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. 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. Otters spend the vast majority of their time in the water, and they even sleep in the water. The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the. 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. 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. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. subfamily. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. You might think an otter is an otter, but hopefully, this article showed you that while two creatures can be called otters, they are very different. They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. 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. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. 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. 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. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. The sea otter we know is quite a bit larger in stature than the average river otter, the largest adults weighing up to 100lbs, heavier even than the largest river otter, the Giant otter (Pteroneura brasiliensis). When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. Not all otters are created equal, especially when it comes to their size. 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. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! 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 . Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. Parents can be as bad as siblings. difference between sea otter and penguinhazbin hotel cherri bomb removed. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. The former can reach up to 5.6 mph (9 kph) underwater, while the latter, in North America, has a maximum speed of 8.7 mph (14 kph). What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? It lives with its family for about a year. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. difference between sea otter and penguinups insurance cost calculator. 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. Among birds, parents under stress to provide for their offspring during rough years may boot eggs from their nests or kill some of their own chicks so that others might survive. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. In addition, sea otters tend to live in small to large familial groups, but river otters, especially males, are more territorial, and while they will be social, they prefer solitary lives or in small family groups. However, just because an otter is spotted on the coast does not mean its a sea otter. The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. Get Out Your Green & Gold! They average around 2 feet in length and weigh around 10 pounds. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, out of around 50 species of seahorses, all but one are vulnerable or threatened. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. Who will you choose? SeaQuest Blog Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? There are 13 species of otters. Unlike most other otter species, fish are not an important part of their diet. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. And kelp forests are good at storing carbon: a study in 2012 found that the presence of otters helped carbon storage in North American kelp forests surge. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. 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. The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26-37 in.) when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. The most notable physical difference between this subspecies and its northern cousins is size. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat. Learn more. Still, the attempts to mate with seals requires an explanation. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. All rights reserved. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. 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. Not only do these two creatures have different habitats, but they have both evolved fur to best suit those habitats. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. They spend their lives in water, and have many adaptations to their entirely aquatic lifestyle. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. and weighing just 1 to 5 kg (2.2-11 lbs.). Whether youre sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. 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. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. 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. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. Young cattle egrets will peck and harass weaker siblings, going so far to push them out of the nest and to their doom. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. They are unique sea creatures because they are the only marine mammals that can flip over rocks and boulders on the sea floor to find food. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. They also feed on invertebrates and small animals found in the sea. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. 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. 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. Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. In what promises to be two close matches, Sea Otter will face off against Penguin, and ThinkProgress office-favorite Sea Horse will battle the severely endangered North Atlantic Right Whale. You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. 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. Vote in the embedded tweets below, on Twitter with the hashtag #CPMarchSadness, or on our Facebook page. 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. 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. 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 dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. Seals are marine mammals in the Phocidae family. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Thank you for visiting! A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. Sea otters are generally diurnal. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. Although both seals and otters come in various sizes due to their many species, seals are almost always larger than 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. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. 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 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. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. They are one of the only mammals that use tools to help them hunt and feed, and they happen to have the densest fur of any other mammal on the planet. 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. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . difference between sea otter and penguin. With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. They feed on fish and shellfish. River otters tend to eat frogs, fish, crayfish, reptiles, and birds. When seen for the first time, the Adlie penguin gives you the impression of a very smart little man. 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! Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. River otters are more petite. But this should not be so. 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. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. Additionally, river otters have a very different social structure from sea otters, often preferring solitude over a sea otters committed family structure. The main feature that makes otters appear different from seals is the body size. Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. 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. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. Why are these male sea otters killing seals? River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. Otters mainly feed on invertebrates while seals mainly feed on fish. 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. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. Lets dive in and get started! Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. They consume around 10 lbs of food per day. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! difference between sea otter and penguin. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. 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. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. In addition to the difference in fur, river otters and sea otters have other differences in appearance. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. Free shipping for many products! Another difference between river otters and sea otters is their appearance. 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. The dark side of superficially cute animals is a part of their nature that reminds us that the wild does not exist for our entertainment and whimsy. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. 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. Who will win? The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. They live in or near oceans. (Major seas are known as oceans.) With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent!