difference between sea otter and penguin

They eat 15% of their body weight a day. 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). You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. 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. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. 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. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. 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 . In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. What we might perceive as aberrant behavior starts earlyespecially violence. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. 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. 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. There are 13 species of otters in the world, with 12 of those species requiring access to freshwater and only one species residing in the ocean. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. On average, seals are larger than otters. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. The maximum lifespan for male Nothern Elephant Seal is age 14; for females it is to age 20. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. 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). River Otter vs Sea Otter: 5 Key Differences - AZ Animals However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. 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. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. Otters are mammals in the Mustelidae family. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. Known as Pygoscelis adeliae to scientists, and as the Socially Awkward Penguin through memes, the Adlie penguin was one of the subjects that caught the attention of scientist George Murray Levick while he ventured to the South Pole with the 1910-13 Scott Antarctic Expedition. Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. 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. are about 33 species in this family. 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. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. River otter mothers care for their pups until they are between six and twelve months old. While sea otters are found in the sea, Asian small-clawed otters are found in freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. River Otter Vs Sea Otter Differences You Ought To Know | Kidadl Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. Sea otter | Animals | Monterey Bay Aquarium Who will make it to the next round for a chance at a feature story? About Us Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. Difference between Otter and Seal - Difference Betweenz And delphine sexual aggression isnt limited to members of their own kind. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. Since river otters are much smaller, they are more prone to predators. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. This only gets creepier given the recent suggestion that dolphins actually have names that they call one another. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. They are not very graceful on land because of their flippers, but they manage to move very well in the water. 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)! Sea otters will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. Sea otters are bigger and thus have larger feet than river otters. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. Our mission at Wildlife Informer is to share free information and pictures of wildlife with our readers. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Georgia Aquarium, along with other zoos and aquariums, work tirelessly to educate and inspire guests, while providing our otters the best veterinary and nutritional care. 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! Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. 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. Animals Differences and Comparison - Softschools.com Hindflippers rotate underneath to allow them to walk on land, Swim underwater using foreflippers like wings of a bird, Move on land by wiggling on belly and keep hindflippers straight out, Swim by steering with foreflippers and powering with hindflippers, All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. 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. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called depravity of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. In addition to the sea otter being significantly bigger than the river otter, they also have different mating and parenting habits. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for W178 CENTEX Centex Charmyland Saru Gorilla Sea Otter Walrus Penguin Rockhoppe at the best online prices at eBay! The dark side of superficially cute animals is a part of their nature that reminds us that the wild does not exist for our entertainment and whimsy. There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, River Otter vs Sea Otter: 5 Key Differences. 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. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. Not only do these two creatures have different habitats, but they have both evolved fur to best suit those habitats. Sea Otter - Animal profile, pictures, facts, range map Sea otters are larger Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. At Rocky Shores you can explore a far Northwest world where land and ocean meet; where sea lions dive, seals splash and otters play. They are comparatively smaller in body size. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. : Most all seal species are carnivorous. There is no animal that is made of rainbows and kisses and goodness all the way through. Free shipping for many products! It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Individual Behavior Grooming. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. What is the difference between the sea otter and the marine otter The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Search. Dolphins kill other marine mammals and fish just for fun and commit infanticide. Another major difference between sea otters and river otters is their mating habits. Vote below. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. The sea otter we know is quite a bit larger in stature than the average river otter, the largest adults weighing up to 100lbs, heavier even than the largest river otter, the Giant otter (Pteroneura brasiliensis).