difference between sea otter and penguin - breakingwinds.com We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. 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. River otters have a thick, lustrous coat that keeps them warm. 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. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. 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. Additionally, river otters have a very different social structure from sea otters, often preferring solitude over a sea otters committed family structure. Animals Differences and Comparison for Kids. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. 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! The Asian small-clawed otter's tail is long, with a sharp end. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! Their slow, quiet and sudden way. 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. Please try YES! Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. On average, seals are larger than otters. Parents can be as bad as siblings. 2. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 Tax ID #23-7245152 Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters 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. Found in both saltwater and freshwater, a river otter lounges around riverbanks and swims with its belly down, keeping the majority of its body submerged below the water. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. Otters and seals share many things such as they are both mammals and have the same physical appearance although they are different from each other. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. What sea otters, dolphins, and penguins sometimes do to one another in their attempts to mate can make us feel queasy, but this is just one sort of animal behaviors that have been unsettling us since the Victorian era. They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. 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. River Otters | Seattle Aquarium Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. If you find these critters as otterly . 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. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. 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! But no, the strange sea otter attacks on baby seals are a reality and have even made their way into the technical literature. Your Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife. The Northern sea otter and the Southern sea otter, but in actuality, this is the one and only species of otter that is a lifelong ocean-dweller. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. : They are huge eaters! While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity - the threats they face in the wild. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. They are not very graceful on land because of their flippers, but they manage to move very well in the water. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. 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. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? They include; weasels, badgers, wolverines, and polecats. : Most all seal species are carnivorous. Not to worry, friends. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). 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. They are mammals without fur as adults. Lets dive in and get started! Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. 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. There are about 33 species in this family. Giant Otter Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. These two similarly named and look-alike animals are, in fact, very different. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. 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. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. The dark sides of otters, dolphins, and penguins are just as much a part of their nature as the parts we find so squee-inducingly adorable. Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. Elsewhere in Slate, read Jessica Winters essay about her dying cat, an excerpt from Jon Katzs new book about a Rottweiler in need of rescuing, and Jason Bittels thorough investigation into bat sex. 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. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. 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. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). 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. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. difference between sea otter and penguin. Noun; A large body of salty water. Marine mammals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northern Sea Otter - Alaska Department of Fish and Game A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily.
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