This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. However, river otters prefer to eat fish, frogs, crayfish, birds, and reptiles, while sea otters enjoy sea urchins, clams, crabs, and seaweed. 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! Levick was aghast because he viewed the penguins in human termsas little gents and dames dressed to the nines. Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Vote in the embedded tweets below, on Twitter with the hashtag #CPMarchSadness, or on our Facebook page. . Get Out Your Green & Gold! The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. difference between sea otter and penguin - breakingwinds.com Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Sea Otter Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. nurse unit manager interview questions and answers australia. The species are either aquatic or semi-aquatic depending on the species. Free shipping for many products! You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. Did You Know. 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 Knysna seahorse is extremely vulnerable to increases in water temperatures; in 1991, more than 3,000 were found dead after heavy rainfall resulted in higher than normal temperatures. Their diet is composed of meat and protein such as fish, octopuses, lobsters, salmon, eel, mackerel, and squid. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). 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. 2022 Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street Northwest, Atlanta, GA. Georgia Aquarium is a nonprofit committed to inspiring awareness and preservation of our ocean and aquatic animals worldwide. SeaQuest Blog Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. Southern sea otters are approximately four feet in length and weigh on average between 45-65 pounds. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, its a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that its a sea otter. Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. : Feed on crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, and abalone. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Less like Flipper and more like the megalomaniacal King Snorky of The Simpsons, a dolphin has a permanent smile that gives off a decidedly creepy vibe. Who will you choose? At least two of the sea otters had been previously held at the Monterey Bay Aquarium as part of their rehabilitation program for stranded and injured otters. Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. All About Otters - Behavior | SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Terms & Conditions. They are comparatively smaller in body size. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. River Otters | Seattle Aquarium The identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. Animals Differences and Comparison - Softschools.com They have flippers and do not have visible ears. One thing many people dont realize is just how much larger sea otters are compared to river otters. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! If you find these critters as otterly . About Us 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. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. It lives with its family for about a year. 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. They are comparatively larger in body size. Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. 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. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. Seal Vs Otter: What Are the Differences? - AZ Animals The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family. While it may seem obvious at first, you may not know all of the differences between a river otter vs sea otter. And delphine sexual aggression isnt limited to members of their own kind. 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. Their bodies and feet are also shaped very differently as well. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. 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. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. Lets take a look and some similarities, and differences, between these two amazingly fascinating animals! Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. Some seals have fur, but they are not considered true seals. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! 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. Though most species occur in cold-water environments. In addition, sea otters tend to live in small to large familial groups, but river otters, especially males, are more territorial, and while they will be social, they prefer solitary lives or in small family groups. Algae vs Seaweed: What is the Difference? SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. As the smallest species of otter, they range in size from 4.4 to 11 pounds, with a body length of only 16 to 24 inches, which makes them half the length of a southern sea otter! If you spot an otter in the Chesapeake Bay, it's a river otter, whereas if you spot one in Monterey Bay (especially in the water), the chances are high that it's a sea otter. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Sea vs Penguin - What's the difference? | WikiDiff The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. There are 13 species of otters. They display sexual dimorphism. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. Northern Sea Otter - Alaska Department of Fish and Game Sea otters are generally diurnal. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. This inner layer keeps them warm, and the outer layer keeps them waterproof. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? 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. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Another key difference between a river otter vs sea otter is their preferred locations and habitats. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Sea Otter Vs River Otter (9 Key Differences) - Wildlife Informer But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. again or contact 1.888.780.6763. They are also captured for the exotic pet trade in some countries and several species are still trapped and killed for their fur.