Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. Copyright 2023. Dolphins have tried to force themselves on human swimmers, a prospect made all the more terrifying by the fact that they have prehensile penises. Otters spend the vast majority of their time in the water, and they even sleep in the water. If you look closely at river otters, youll notice that they have short, coarse fur made up of two layers: one for keeping them warm, and another waterproof one outside of that. It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. If they cant keep them on their stomachs for some reason like if they are hunting, scientists have witnessed sea otters wrapping their young in kelp to keep them afloat while the mothers seek food. There are about 33 species in this family. Another significant difference is the number of offspring these creatures have. A sea otter can grow to be up to 4 feet long, while a river otter only grows to be about 2.5 feet long. In terms of colours, seals have thick fur coats that range from pale yellow to light grey and dark brown. Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. Learn More About Estate Planning. Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they aren't spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. 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. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. 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. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different families. Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. Thats quite the size difference! Answer: I can only speak about North American otters, of which there are two species: * Enhydra lutris - Generally called a "Sea Otter". One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. The maximum lifespan for male Nothern Elephant Seal is age 14; for females it is to age 20. 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. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. Please try The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. 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. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. Darwin knew this well. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. 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. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It may seem obvious, but the best way to tell if youre looking at a river otter or a sea otter is just paying attention to the body of water youre observing! They are commonly known as pinnipeds. Which would you like to know more about? 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. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. Many people don't know the difference between sea otters and river otters but, with a little info, you'll be able to tell right away. There is no animal that is made of rainbows and kisses and goodness all the way through. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. All of this is only the barest catalog of common and widespread phenomena in nature that we often shy away from examining, as we have great difficulty divorcing our own sense of morality from a wilderness that does not and cannot share our values. However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. Who will you choose? This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). difference between sea otter and penguin. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. Dolphin Coast Presented by Margaritaville by Wyndham, Beginning Environmental Leadership Program, Next Up: Sea Lion Pup Born at Georgia Aquarium, Alliance of Marine Mammals Parks & Aquariums (AMMPA), International Marine Animal Trainer's Association (IMATA). It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? Warming oceans and changing marine conditions due to climate change and ocean acidification make it harder for the whale, which has an exceptionally long migratory and gestation period, to prosper and further threaten the species survival. African penguins are declining in part due to fluctuations in water temperature and increased storms on their breeding grounds. Otters are comparatively smaller while seals are larger in body size. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. again or contact 1.888.780.6763. There are only 450 left in the world. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). 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. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. As ethologist Sarah Hrdy has observed, there are various reasons for infanticide. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. There are 13 species of otters. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. Some seals have fur, but they are not considered true seals. Dolphins kill other marine mammals and fish just for fun and commit infanticide. The main feature that makes otters appear different from seals is the body size. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. Have some feedback for us? 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. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. 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 have blubber that is deposited below the skin. 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. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. As Natural History Museum, London ornithologist Douglas Russell and colleagues reported in a preface to Levicks belatedly-released report, this behavior is so ingrained that when a researcher set out a dead penguin that had been frozen in such a position, many males found the corpse irresistible. In a bit of weird field work, the same researcher found that just the frozen head of the penguin, with self-adhesive white Os for eye rings, propped upright on wire with a large rock for a body, was sufficient stimulus for males to copulate and deposit sperm on the rock. I fear Ive just made the Socially Awkward Penguin seem just that much more socially awkward. If youre on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: its a river otter. Noun; A large body of salty water. Asian Small-Clawed Otters have a classification of Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List while Sea and Giant Otters are listed as Endangered as of today. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. If we truly wish to appreciate sea otters, dolphins, penguins, and the rest, we need to consider them as they truly are and not just as the cuddly caricatures that never cease to make us go Awww.. Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. 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. The average river otter only weighs 15-20 pounds, while sea otters can reach anywhere from 20-80 pounds depending on their gender and age. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. California Sea Lions live an average of 15 to 25 years, however some have lived to 30 years or more in captivity with proper diet and healthcare. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? For if such awful displays occurred in nature, what might that say about our own actions? Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. As their name suggests, sea otters are adorable mammals that barely leave their saltwater homes. 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 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. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. Protect the Arctic from Future Oil Spills. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. And delphine sexual aggression isnt limited to members of their own kind. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by Otter belongs to the Mustelidae family while the seal belongs to the Phocidae family. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! Wannabe mother primates may steal the baby of another and unintentionally starve that infant in a phenomenon called aunting to death. Dominant wild dogs may kill the offspring of subordinate members of the pack to make sure the alphas infants get the most food. Asian small-clawed otters have a body length of 30-45 cm (12-18 inches) and a tail length of 15-25 cm (6-10 inches). launchpad classlink nmusd; cantonese text to speech; 15 second tv commercial script examples They are basically carnivores. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. Thank you for reading! The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. Theyre both known for spending a lot of time in the water, something that is unusual for mammals that dont spend their entire lives in water. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. Peregrine FalconDay 104/1: TBDDay 114/2: TBDDay 124/3: THE FINAL FOUR: TBDDay 134/6: THE CHAMPIONSHIP: TBD, PAST ROUNDS:Round 7: Sweet Sixteen, part 2Round 6: Sweet Sixteen, part 1Round 5: Shells and WingsRound 4: Horns and HoovesRound 3: Fins and FlippersRound 2: Paws and Claws, part 2Round 1: Paws and Claws, part 1, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Maintained by Center for American Progress - Action Fund. All rights reserved. Scientists believe this difference is due to the size difference between the two creatures. About Us A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. But this should not be so. Both types of otters need their coats to form a layer of insulation that traps air to keep them warm, and they certainly need it when areas like the Pacific dip to chilly temperatures that are often between 35 and 60 (and even lower than that as you move up the coast toward Alaska and Canada)! Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. All otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. River otters are more petite. Who will win? Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Contact us today. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. Although described as the smallest marine mammal this species is quite large as otters go, reaching as much as 80 lbs. Your Generous Gift Will Help Us Continue To Protect Our Ocean And Its Wildlife. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. Terms & Conditions. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs.