Sea Otter Facts: Families Groups of sea otters are called ‘rafts’. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups. This combination allows them to have greater nimbleness when foraging. All otters are expert hunters that eat fish, crustaceans, and other critters. Otters are generally considered to be small and fluffy animals, but there are 11 other species of otter. Unlike other weasels, otters are semi-aquatic. 10 of the World's Most Impressive Aquariums, 17 Bizarre and Beautiful Starfish Species, 16 Ocean Creatures That Live in Total Darkness, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Marlene Bloom is one of the founders of Baby Otter Swim School, Inc. With 30 years experience in swim instruction, Marlene is who developed the Turn, Kick, Reach program, or TKR. Sea otters use a rock or hard object to break open shellfish or other food. Sea otters also rape baby seals to death. Hand-holding keeps the otters from drifting away from each other and their food source while they sleep. For centuries, fisherman have been training otters to act as herders and chase large schools of fish into the nets,” says Mental Floss. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Females usually have their first baby pup at the age of four or five. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. Otters sometimes take up residence in abandoned beaver lodges or muskrat dens. They have a thick fur coat that keeps them warm even in freezing water. Two species are marine; the others live mostly in fresh water. There are 13 species of otters: The 13 species of otters are – African Clawless Otter, Asian Small-Clawed Otter, Congo Clawless Otter, Eurasian Otter , Giant Otter, Hairy-Nosed Otter, Marine Otter, Neotropical Otter, North American River Otter, South American River Otter , Sea Otter, Spotted-Neck Otter and Smooth-Coated Otter. All rights reserved. Otters have the densest fur of any animal—as many as a million hairs per square inch in places. Pretty cool, pretty terrifying. Cute! When it’s time to nap, sea otters entangle themselves in kelp so they don’t float away. Fun Facts for Kids Each European otter within its territory of between 1 and 4 miles has fixed locations where it gets into and exits from the water, sunbathing, rolling and sliding about on "otter stairways". She is the author of The Ethiopian Wolf: Hope at the Edge of Extinction. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old, or until she has another litter. A sea otter’s pelt is the thickest of any mammal. Other otters give birth in dens.Otter babies are called pups. They can also be called kits or kittens. Don't flush hazardous chemicals or cat litter. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. Otters' big appetites protect kelp forests by eating sea urchins. The presence of a healthy otter population indicates a healthy watershed. Check out our range of fun otter facts for kids. Baby Otter Organic Baby Clothes / Otter BABY CLOTHING — otter gift — newborn gift — organic baby clothing, baby gift, otter baby shower gift boygirlparty. It can be fun to test out your knowledge as you go. River Otters, Sea Otters, Giant Otters & Even Cute Baby Otters! River Otters, Sea Otters, Giant Otters & Even Cute Baby Otters! They then leave droppings called spraint, which researchers describe as smelling like violets. Poaching for their velvet-like fur caused significant population declines. For one of the smallest marine mammals on Earth (yet the largest member of the weasel family), the sea otter has racked up quite a few superlatives: 10. A group of otters are called a 'bevy', 'family', 'lodge', or 'romp', or, when in water the group is called a … Powerful tails propel them through the water. The otter is the largest member of the weasel family. They spend around five hours each day foraging. River otters can dive to a depth of 60 feet. 5 out of 5 stars (237) 237 reviews $ 14.00. Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. Otters are very playful animals and have been seen sliding down snowdrifts or mud banks on their bellies. Otters dive well and can remain under water for up to 2 minutes. (That's a Good Sign. Some even move in while beavers are still present. See search results for this author. River otters have webbing between their toes to aid them as well. Otters belong to the mammal family, so baby otters drink milk from their mother as their only source of food while they are still blind. This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry and war… https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/otters.html, as many as a million hairs per square inch. – http://bit.ly/ADVENTUREKIT Order Coyote's NEW book - http://bit.ly/KINGOFSTING Please SUBSCRIBE NOW! What Do River Otters Eat | River Otter Facts. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Researchers found that playful sliding on a riverbank was not just efficient locomotion, but play. River otters perform "scat dances" by stomping their hind feet and lifting their tail. Otter Baby Bib, Bapron, Woodland Baby Bib, otter fabric, Drool Bib, otter nursery, feeding bib, neutral nursery, neutral baby clothes, SewLemony. Giant otters grow to as long as 6 feet and weigh as much as 75 pounds. The density of otter fur is 110-125 thousand hairs per 1 cm². Their sleek bodies range in size from 2 to 5.9 feet. How Do Sea Otters Survive Icy Water Without Getting Hypothermia? This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry and warm under water.They keep the air topped up by blowing into the fur with their mo… All otter species appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and only one is listed as "least concern." It can be fun to test out your knowledge as you go. They can grow to be more than a meter long, from head to tail, and weight up to 14 kg. Only the North American river otter is a species of least concern. The giant otter of South America can grow up to 5.6 feet from snout to toe. 35) Baby otter on a scale Fun fact: “In Bangladesh, otters help fisherman maximize their haul. African clawless otter inhabits lakes, streams and rivers in savannas and lowland forests. It is made up of a waterproof top layer and a short underlayer, which can contain as many as one million hairs per square inch. These include game fishes, bass (Centrarchidae) suckers (Catostomidae), and shiners. The only places without endemic otters are Australia and Antarctica. But after the forty days, they are able to eat plants and tiny fish. Sea otters, particularly mothers and pups, sometimes hold hands while floating on their backs. Instead, researchers learned, they are more likely to juggle rocks when hungry or bored. 8. Get your Adventure Kit! Superb Quality litter of Asian Clawed Baby Otters You can get a wonderful eminence of Asian Clawed Baby Otters with Food guidebook booklet, Model foods Toys, be wormed and inoculated, fully vet checked by an Otter expert, vet Otter pack, 5 weeks indemnity Lifetime hold up in just $400. Though most live in freshwater rivers, lakes, and wetlands, the sea otter and the smaller marine otter are found in the Pacific Ocean. Otters can hold their breath for 3-4 minutes, closing their nostrils and ears to keep out water. Otters consume mainly … A female otter has a gestation period of two months for smaller species and five months for sea otters. Males are larger in size than females (see photos). Most of us don’t know much about them so here are some facts to help you educate yourself about them. They learn to swim when they are about two months old, when their mother pushes them into the water. Otter Central – Leading Source for Otter Videos, Otter Pictures, Otter Facts & More Learn fascinating sea otter facts. They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. Mother otter carry their babies on their tummy until they are 3 to 5 months old. An otter pup's fur is too dense for it to swim underwater. Male otters will find a juvenile harbor seal and mount it, as if he were mating with a female otter. Pile o' Otter Babies Otter pups always provide for a generous helping of "pile-on". Baby Otter (Penguin Young Readers, Level 3) Paperback – September 17, 2009 by Ginjer L. Clarke (Author) › Visit Amazon's Ginjer L. Clarke Page. Each European otter within its territory of between 1 and 4 miles has fixed locations where it gets into and exits from the water, sunbathing, rolling and sliding about on "otter stairways". Otter Pups / Baby Otters Wild Sea Otter Mom and Newborn Pup in the Great Tide Pool Otter Memes - September 18, 2020 Other Animals Cute baby animals Videos Compilation Cute moment of the animals – Cutest Animals #5 Sea otters can grow between 34 and 60 inches in length. Usually, a single baby (called a pup) is produced following 4 to 5 months of pregnancy. A sea otter will float on its back, place a rock on its chest, then smash the mollusk down on it until it breaks open. Male sea otters sometimes attack baby seals and attempt to mate with them, writes Brian Switek for Slate. Most are small, with short ears and noses, elongated bodies, long tails, and soft, dense fur. Discover (and save!) Sea Otters Have the World's Thickest Fur, 10 Magical Places Saved by Endangered Species, Fun Facts About 21 of N. America's Coolest Critters, 10 Things You Didn't Know About Polar Bears, Sea Otters Are Helping Save Their Own Habitat, A Rescued Sea Otter Pup Is Swimming in Cute at the Vancouver Aquarium, Big Predators Are Showing Up in Surprising Places More Often. Otters are part of the Mustelid family of animals which also includes badgers, pine martens and weasels. Asian otter species also face threats from the illegal pet trade. At around 6 feet in length, this animal is the world’s largest species of otters. Otter Central – Leading Source for Otter Videos, Otter Pictures, Otter Facts & More So, their mother leaves them floating while … A group of otters in the water is most often called a raft. 5 out of 5 stars (15,297) 15,297 reviews $ 22.00. Otter groups are called a family, bevy, lodge, or a romp. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Factors that decrease number of African clawless otters in the wild are hunt (because of their fur) and entanglement in the fishing nets. Breeding and Reproduction . The sea otter is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, pressured by pollution, pesticides, and conflicts with fishermen who kill them for eating their fish. 1. Otters tend to live alone, except during mating and for a short time after the cubs are born. African clawless otter is a mammal that belongs to the weasel family. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. They also sometimes intertwine their feet with another sea otter, so that they stay together. Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. They usually stay on all four legs, but they can stand up as well but they are expert swimmers and spend a lot of time in water. This density of wool does not allow the otters to get wet in the water. 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