They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. RETWEET for Whale or FAVE for Sea Horse #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/WPiCEtbbDt, ***TOURNAMENT UPDATES:Day 13/19: Paws and Claws pt. They average around 2 feet in length and weigh around 10 pounds. 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. 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. Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. North American River Otter This makes people think that it is the same animal. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Sea otters have an average lifespan of 12-15 years in the wild while river otters live an average of 9-12 years. Their unique bodies make it easy to tell the creatures apart. Heres a list of 9 ways that sea otters and river otters are different from one another. According to the IUCN, this can make it hard for otters to meet their high metabolic needs, leading to malnutrition or starvation.. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. River otters are more petite. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. The naturalistic fallacy refers to the misguided belief that whatever is natural is good. difference between sea otter and penguin - gelito.co.uk They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. I am a non-binary freelance writer working full-time in Oregon. Lastly, seals use blubber under their thick skin to keep them warm when they spend time in the water, but otters have dense, two-layered fur that keeps them insulated. While it may seem obvious at first, you may not know all of the differences between a river otter vs sea otter. Learn More About Estate Planning. There are 13 species of otters. 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. Though most species occur in cold-water environments. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. 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. In addition to this, once you know the fundamentals of what to look for, its quite easy to differentiate whether or not an otter is a sea otter or a river otter one is large and fluffy and the other is small and streamlined. Have a question? They eat 15% of their body weight a day. Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. Their gestation period lasts between 9 to 12 months. Lets dive in and get started! The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Such behavior led ornithologist Douglas Mock and colleagues to write Occasionally, the pen of natural selection writes a murder mystery on the pages of evolution. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. The sea otters legs arent made for walking, like river otters are, but for constant swimming. Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the ocean, while river otters spend their lives on land unless they need to hunt or travel elsewhere. Individual Behavior Grooming. From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Difference between Otter and Seal - Difference Betweenz 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. Youll have a very simple time determining if you are looking at an otter from a true seal with one or two of those factors. What is natural is not inherently good or evil: It simply is, and wed be fools to take such examples as models of right or wrong. For example, the seal and otter are two animals that have a lot in common and are often confused for one another. Heres a quick snapshot of just some of the otter and seal species size ranges: Asian Small Clawed Otters are the smallest species of otter. When it comes to distinguishing between river otters and sea otterswell, what is the difference, anyway? Terms & Conditions. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. Our work is focused on solving some of the greatest threats facing our ocean today. Sea otters have a different diet from river otters, given their habitat and saltwater location. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. Have some feedback for us? They are basically carnivores. The rehabilitated sea otters were released into an environment of intense competition and were at a disadvantage when it came time to find a mate. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. 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. Sea otter | Animals | Monterey Bay Aquarium Sea otter, dolphin, and penguin behavior: Your favorite animals are jerks. Another interesting tidbit about penguins is that 15,000 years ago, they were actually able to tolerate a warming climate. Now, however, its differentthere is too little sea ice, which is impacting the food supply. There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. 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. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters. 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. Seals belong to the Phocidae family, and otters belong to the Mustelidae family. 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. The sea otter does, however, have a shorter tail than the river otter. Animals Differences and Comparison - Softschools.com The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. Their bodies and feet are also shaped very differently as well. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. They feed on fish and shellfish. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. Finally, river otters can dive to around 60 feet deep, whereas sea otters, remarkably, can dive to several hundred feet to forage for food. Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. difference between sea otter and penguin. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. Greetings From the Vortex of Unpredictability, rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks, feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from todays greatest global challenges. Many creatures dwell in the water, and some of them are difficult to tell apart. These carnivorous mammals inhabit fresh and saltwater rivers. The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. Both species face threats of pollution, habitat loss, and reduced food sources. 2Lemur vs. Koala; Panda vs. Wolverine (voting closed) WINNERS: Koala and Wolverine.Day 33/23: Fins and FlippersSea Lion vs. Sea Horse; Penguin vs. Manatee; Walrus vs. Sea Otter; Whale vs. Salmon (voting closed) WINNERS: Sea Horse, Sea Otter, Whale, and Penguin.Day 43/24: Horns and HoovesElephant vs. Horned Lizard; Rhino vs. Narwhal; Saola vs. Moose; Mountain Goat vs. Reindeer (voting closed) WINNERS: Elephant, Narwhal, Moose, and Mountain Goat.Day 53/25: Shells and WingsSea Turtle vs. Pelican; Sage Grouse vs. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site by Thrive Web Designs, Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. We know it can get otterly confusing to differentiate the species, so here are five ways to tell them apart! While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. The notion that sea otters fall in love and hold hands in the ocean so that they dont drift away from one another is a foreign concept to a river otter! 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. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. Its without a doubt that otters are some of the most adorable mammals to ever grace the planet. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! They also feed on invertebrates and small animals found in the sea. 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. This is primarily due to the difference in habitat, but sea otters and river otters have different diets. While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. Lets talk more about all of these differences in more detail now. 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. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. For example, sea otters are much larger than river otters in both length and weight. W178 CENTEX Centex Charmyland Saru Gorilla Sea Otter Walrus Penguin Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. River otters can be found in pairs, but they tend to spend time with other otters in a more casual way. I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. 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. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. You might think an otter is an otter, but hopefully, this article showed you that while two creatures can be called otters, they are very different. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. For as cute as they are while intertwining paws at an aquarium, frolicking among the wafting fronds of California kelp forests, or smashing sea urchins open with stones, some sea otters have developed the disturbing habit of humping and drowning baby seals. Male sea otters compete with one another for mates. The sea otter is the "fluffiest" among these three animals. 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 Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? As their name suggests, sea otters are adorable mammals that barely leave their saltwater homes. You Otter Know: The Difference Between Sea and River Otters And amorous males of various species, including the noble lion, kill infants to make their mothers available for breeding again. Animals Differences and Comparison for Kids. And baby Magellanic penguins in Argentina are dying at an unprecedented rate due to heavy rains, strong storms and heat. Otters are smaller while seals are comparatively large when it comes to body size. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. YES! Southern sea otters are approximately four feet in length and weigh on average between 45-65 pounds. Contact us today. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. The maximum lifespan for male Nothern Elephant Seal is age 14; for females it is to age 20. 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 pups learn their mothers voice to avoid confusion of the mother feeding another seals pups. Sea vs Penguin - What's the difference? | WikiDiff Sea Otters have an average lifespan of 15-20 years but in captivity, some live over 25 years. River otters and sea otters have different lifespans. 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. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. Parents can be as bad as siblings. 1Polar Bear vs. Wombat; Tasmanian Devil vs. Pangolin; (voting closed) WINNERS: Polar Bear and Pangolin.Day 23/20: Paws and Claws pt. Enter your email and never miss an update. Asian small-clawed otters have relatively short hair that consists of two layers a coarse, waterproof outer coat and a softer, finer layer that is used for warmth. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. Did You Know. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Do you think you can tell the difference if you saw them side-by-side? Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. 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)! Otters have paws and external ears while seals have flippers but do not have visible ears. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. 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. Read the rules here. North American River Otters weigh between 10 pounds to 25 pounds and grow up to 3 feet in length. The main difference between the two species is their size; Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest otters in the world, while sea otters are the largest. As their name suggests, sea otters live in the sea! They are comparatively larger in body size. Northern Sea Otter - Alaska Department of Fish and Game Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. All pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses) are protected in U.S. waters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to NOAA. In addition, severe weather can make it difficult for sea otters to forage for and find food. They have the densest fur of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch. River otters will achieve maturity between the ages of two and three, while female sea otters mature between ages three and five, and males even later between ages five and seven. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. Otter vs. Seal: What's the Difference? - SeaQuest 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. Length of Lions Mane Jellyfish vs Blue Whale. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. Keep reading to learn more about what makes each of these species unique. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. On average, seals are larger than otters. 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. 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. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. difference between sea otter and penguin - tagestion.ca If you find these critters as otterly . We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. 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. St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? 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). The Difference Between Asian Small-Clawed Otters And Sea Otters A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. The webbed feet of a sea otter. They display sexual dimorphism. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. River Otters | Seattle Aquarium Privacy Policy. The main feature that makes otters appear different from seals is the body size. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. Sea otters must eat 20-25% of their body weight to maintain their body temperature. Marine mammals | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration difference between sea otter and penguin - zuvutaukai.lt They live in or near oceans. About Us There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. Answers: These three are all sea otters (credit: Deanna Lynch/USFWS) while the first and last photos in this blog are river otters (credit: Barry Troutman). Rocky Shores & Arctic Tundra - Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium You Otter Know! - Georgia Aquarium Who will you choose? There are quite a few to discuss, as river otters and sea otters belong to different genuses of animal. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . 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. Asian Small-Clawed Otters will live around 12 years in captivity but lifespan in the wild is really unknown, with an estimated number of 5,000 left in the world. Otters webbed paws are interesting because sea otters will hold hands with their partners, so they dont drift too far apart from their group. 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. With 13 species around the world, you can find an otter species located on almost every continent! Sea otters also have thicker fur, often with white markings, while river otters have sleeker fur to match their streamlined bodies. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. All About Otters - Physical Characteristics | SeaWorld Parks Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. 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. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Did you know that sea otters mate for life? River otters, despite their name, can be found in fresh and salt water. Sea Otters are a larger species of otter. Both are good swimmers but when we compare the two, the seals win because of their streamlined bodies and flippers that enable them to move in water fast. Vote below. At Arctic Tundra we've created a habitat just like the grassy tundra near Point Hope, Alaska - and filled it with massive muskoxen. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Seal Vs Otter: What Are the Differences? - AZ Animals (Major seas are known as oceans.) What's the Difference Between River Otters and Sea Otters? 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. 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). While members of both otter subtypes love to swim, the swimming behaviors they engage in are quite distinct. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different families. American Oceans, Quick Facts: Bioluminescence & What Causes It. 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. Please try They have the ability to walk but they prefer living in the oceans more than staying on the land. Red Wolf Population (Historically and Currently), Manatee Vs Dugong (Heres the Difference), 6 Types of Water Snakes in Illinois (Pictures). Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. 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! A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). 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. 8 Difference Between Otter and Seal (With Table) 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. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. This is likely due to their respective sizes and predators in their environments, as sea otters grow much larger than river otters do. This only gets creepier given the recent suggestion that dolphins actually have names that they call one another. Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. Nevertheless, seals tend to be much larger than otters. Sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters.