They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . River otters, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. 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. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Otters are comparatively smaller while seals are larger in body size. Please try 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. 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. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. 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. Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. And amorous males of various species, including the noble lion, kill infants to make their mothers available for breeding again. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. A final difference between a river otter vs sea otter lies in their social behaviors and mating habits. difference between sea otter and penguin - sexygeeks.be It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. 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. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. 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 that's extremely dense and warm. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The Difference Between Asian Small-Clawed Otters And Sea Otters The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. According to the IUCN, this can make it hard for otters to meet their high metabolic needs, leading to malnutrition or starvation.. Sea otters are larger than river otters. At Arctic Tundra we've created a habitat just like the grassy tundra near Point Hope, Alaska - and filled it with massive muskoxen. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. Have some feedback for us? SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Male sea otters typically grasp the female from behind and bite her face, and this rough behavior was associated with the deaths of about 11 percent of dead sea otters discovered between 2000 and 2003. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. Copyright 2023. Animals Differences and Comparison - Softschools.com They have short limbs with webbed feet. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. They feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. River otters build dens on the riverbanks and care for their young there. Spot the difference: Asian small-clawed otter, sea otter and beaver Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. When I first heard about the behavior from a marine biologist friend of mine, I didnt quite believe sea otters could be so diabolical. 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! They are mostly solitary but come together in groups to mate. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). Dolphins kill other marine mammals and fish just for fun and commit infanticide. We bring people, science and policy together to champion innovative solutions and fight for a sustainable ocean. Whats the Difference Between a Dolphin and Shark? They are also known as fin-footed mammals. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . 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 . They even have the adorable habit of floating on their backs, even while theyre eating, and have been known to hold hands with each other while sleeping so they dont drift apart from their pals! With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. For example, sea otters are much larger than river otters in both length and weight. There are about 33 species in this family. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. Which would you like to know more about? They give birth on the land. River otters also eat a different diet when compared to sea otters. While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. 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. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. difference between sea otter and penguin - gelito.co.uk Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. The Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. Alaska sea otters are slightly larger than . Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. : They are huge eaters! We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. : Most all seal species are carnivorous. 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. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. 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.
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