Erzsebet Frey

Otters are one of the largest and most social members of the weasel (or
Mustelidae) family. The weasel family has been around for a long time,
first appearing around 15 million years ago. This group includes almost
60 different species including mink, ferrets, badgers, martens,
wolverines, and more. The Mustelidae family inhabits all continents
except Antarctica and
[Australia](https://simplyecologist.com/what-continent-has-the-deadliest-animals/).
All are primarily carnivores and most are active year-round.

River otters are relatively small mammals (total length can be up to 50
inches) with elongated, heavily muscular, streamlined bodies. They live
in water most of the time and are excellent swimmers.

They have adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle in several ways: Short,
powerful legs and webbed toes make them
[fast](https://simplyecologist.com/what-animal-is-the-fastest-killer/)
swimmers (up to eight miles per hour). Their long, thick, pointed tail
helps them along and can also propel them forward and act as a rudder.
The dense fur keeps them warm, and they need frequent drying and
brushing to maintain their insulating qualities and water resistance.
Eyes and ears are set high on the supporting surface of the head when
swimming. The eyes also have a protective third eyelid for swimming
[underwater](https://simplyecologist.com/how-long-polar-bears-can-stay-underwater/).
Only the hind legs are webbed.

Otters are short-sighted too. Even the small, rounded ears and nostrils
close when the otter is underwater. They can spend up to eight minutes
underwater and dive to depths of 60 feet!

Adults weigh 15 to 35 pounds and are 40 to 60 inches (102 to 152 cm)
long. Females are 25 percent smaller than males. The belly is slightly
lighter than the back. The chin and throat are greyish.

The North American river otter has adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle.
It has a thick coat to keep warm in cold water, short legs, and webs to
swim faster, a streamlined body, and a strong tail to move faster in the
water. The otter also feels just as comfortable on land.

In fact, he can run many kilometers at a time; However, these nocturnal
walks are an increasingly risky activity due to habitat changes.

This otter species is not very social: males and females only meet for
courtship or mating, which takes place twice a year.

Although they can live for around eight years in the wild, they are
sensitive to pollution and cannot survive in heavily polluted water.

The giant otter is the only mustelid (a member of the weasel family)
that mates with a single partner. Although these otters are monogamous,
they often live in family groups that include mates and young from
different
[breeding](https://simplyecologist.com/what-is-the-breeding-behavior-of-red-pandas/)
seasons. Also known as river wolves these giant mammals can grow up to
two meters long and compete with jaguars for their prey.

Its visibility is not very good, but underwater it can be better than on
the surface. The animal uses multiple sets of powerful wire busts to
hunt and avoid obstacles.

They travel back and forth between bodies of water several kilometers
over land, developing well-defined migratory routes that are used year
after year. They can dig over an area of ​​several square meters. Feces,
twisted clumps of grass, and small mounds of dirt and vegetation are
common in these areas.

River otters reach maturity at 2 years of age. A female produces one
litter each year.

The young are born toothless and blind in a mostly underground burrow. 7
weeks later his eyes open. When they are about 2 months old they emerge
from the burrow and soon begin swimming and eating solid food. The
female teaches them to swim and has to coax them or throw them into the
water. They become independent after 5 months. They stay with their
mother until shortly before the birth of their next litter. River otters
reach sexual maturity at 2 years of age. A female will mate with the
male of her choice and produce one litter each year.

Otters can live and
[reproduce](https://simplyecologist.com/how-does-a-bat-reproduce/) for
more than 20 years.

River otters in Alaska hunt on land and in fresh and saltwater. They
feed on snails, clams, clams, sea urchins, insects, crabs, shrimp,
squid, frogs, a variety of fish, and occasionally
[birds](https://simplyecologist.com/birds-reproduction-and-development/),
mammals, and plant matter. Aquatic organisms no longer than a finger are
usually eaten at the surface. from the water; the larger meal is brought
ashore.

Otters travel together and function as a social unit but do not
cooperate in hunting or sharing what is caught. Otter fights are
extremely rare, although they are wary of strange individuals.

The river otter's range includes rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries,
marshes, and major marine waterways, mainly west of the Cascade Range. A
river otter's home range can be as large as 30 square miles. basins and
tributaries and can cover up to 18 miles in a day.

Otters are constantly on the move, especially the males, which have been
known to travel up to 150 miles each year. Females with young will
travel, but not as far.

A good part of the movement is hunting. River otters have an amazing
sense of smell and can sniff out and hunt large numbers of fish upriver
from great distances.

Otters spend most of their time in the water. About a third of the time
they are on land. They often make extensive overland excursions from one
habitat to another.

Although fish is the favorite, river otters also eat crustaceans (like
crabs, shrimp, and barnacles), amphibians (like frogs, toads,
salamanders, and newts), invertebrates (like aquatic insects, worms,
snails, snakes), small mammals, birds (eggs, chicks), and even plant
matter.

They are also fairly "careful" eaters, always rinsing off after each
meal.

Human Use: River otters have no significant enemies other than humans.
They are occasionally killed unintentionally when tangled in fishing
nets or trapped in crab pots. Between 1,200 and 2,400 otters have been
caught for their fur in Alaska annually for the past 10 years.

While you may not be able to see these animals frolicking in the wild,
be sure to visit your local zoo or wildlife sanctuary. Their noisy
antics, dances and games put a smile on everyone's face.


Otters are one of the largest and most social members of the weasel (or Mustelidae) family. The weasel family has been around for a long time, first appearing around 15 million years ago. This group includes almost 60 different species including mink, ferrets, badgers, martens, wolverines, and more. The Mustelidae family inhabits all continents except Antarctica and Australia. All are primarily carnivores and most are active year-round.

Postagens de Rogue Scholar

Facts on river otters