From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Seahorse: Last time we talked about seahorses, we mentioned their fragile coastal ecosystemscoral reefs and mangroves, for instance, are especially vulnerable to disturbances brought on by warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased flooding. difference between sea otter and penguin. I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. Vote in the embedded tweets below, on Twitter with the hashtag #CPMarchSadness, or on our Facebook page. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. For example, if you see a creature with flippers and no tail or ears, its clearly a seal rather than an otter. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. They live in or near oceans. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. 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. These remaining otters can be found in rivers, lakes, and freshwater wetlands. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. 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. Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. Otters have webbed paws instead of flippers, visible external ears, and a long, thin tail that is easy to spot. The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. These are the major differences between seals and otters, and their unique qualities become even more prominent when you look closer at these two creatures. 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! They give birth on the land. They average around 2 feet in length and weigh around 10 pounds. There are so many amazing creatures that dwell in the waters of planet earth, and some of may seem so similar in nature, yet they are difficult to tell apart. The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Copyright 2023. Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. The salty crew of Deep Sea News has been trying to counteract the cuddly image of dolphins for years. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. difference between sea otter and penguin. Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. Please try Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Delivered in the scientific deadpan required of such papers, the Aquatic Mammals report attributes the incidents to three male sea otters observed harassing, dragging, guarding, and copulating with harbor seals, persisting for up to seven days after the otters killed the objects of their misguided advances. Their gestation period lasts between 9 to 12 months. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. Search. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. As 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on everything weve accomplished together on behalf, Climate change touches many aspects of our lives, including the food on our plates. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. 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. This isnt where their social behavioral differences end, however. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. Peregrine Falcon; Oyster vs. Butterfly; Lobster vs. Red Knot (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Turtle, Falcon, Butterfly, Red Knot.Day 63/26: Polar Bear vs. Pangolin; Koala vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear, Wolverine.Day 73/27: Sea Horse vs. Whale; Sea Otter vs. Penguin (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter.Day 83/30: Elephant vs. Mountain Goat; Moose vs. Narwhal (voting NOW OPEN)Day 93/31: Sea Turtle vs. Red Knot; Butterfly vs. (In the concluding paragraphs of On the Origin of Species, he observed that this view of life contains grandeur and horror alike.) Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. While visiting Adlie penguins rookeries, Levick was shocked by the activities of what he called hooligan cocks. Males accosted and copulated with other males, females that were injured, chicks that had tumbled from their nests, and corpses. 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. Cetaceans (whales, porpoises, and dolphins) are categorized into two main groups: baleen whales (mysticetes) and toothed whales (odontocetes). 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. Not to worry, friends. Theyre even known to wrap their babies in kelp to keep them safe and warm while theyre off hunting, and as the Marine Mammal Center describes, these pups end up bobbing up and down on the surface of the ocean like little corks! Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. There are about 33 species in this family. . This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). Travailleur Autonome Gestion michigan department of corrections directory; Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Well, they do. This makes people think that it is the same animal. Ribbon Seals have a maximum lifespan of about 30 years, but they likely live about 20 years. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. (Major seas are known as oceans.) In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. Sea otters carry their young on their stomachs to keep them safe until they are ready to swim by themselves. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! 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. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. 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. Whether youre sailing the coast of the Pacific Northwest or hiking the riverbanks of West Virginia, you now have the tools to tell the difference between river otters and sea otters. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. Can You Eat Clownfish and How Does It Taste? Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. They entirely depend on meat for survival. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. Sea otters are larger than river otters. An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. They are unique sea creatures because they are the only marine mammals that can flip over rocks and boulders on the sea floor to find food. Contact us today. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otterswell, what is the difference, anyway? 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! It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. As their name suggests, sea otters are adorable mammals that barely leave their saltwater homes. Many of, Crocodiles are among the most terrifying animals of all time. Male seals can grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh up to 600 pounds, while otters are much smaller and typically reach up to 3 feet long and weigh between 10 and 20 pounds. again or contact 1.888.780.6763. They have short limbs with webbed feet. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. 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. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? For if such awful displays occurred in nature, what might that say about our own actions? What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence.