difference between sea otter and penguin

These two similarly named and look-alike animals are, in fact, very different. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! There are many distinguishing features between a river otter vs sea otter. Lets dive in and get started! Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. Contact us today. Posted on June 8, 2022 ; in pete davidson first snl episode; by Careers, 2023 SeaQuest, All Rights Reserved. River otters weigh between 11 and 31 pounds. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. (In the concluding paragraphs of On the Origin of Species, he observed that this view of life contains grandeur and horror alike.) 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. 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! At Georgia Aquarium, guests can see our southern sea otters in ourCold Water Questgallery and our Asian small-clawed otters in ourSouthern Company River Scoutgallery. The most common seal in the Arctic, the ringed seal is the smallest of the seal species. Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. I've written in a variety of niches such as video games, animals, and managed service providers. 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. Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. They even have the adorable habit of floating on their backs, even while theyre eating, and have been known to hold hands with each other while sleeping so they dont drift apart from their pals! Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Otter and seals belong to different families. 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. River otters also eat a different diet when compared to sea otters. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun. The sea otter does, however, have a shorter tail than the river otter. 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. subfamily. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. 2. difference between sea otter and penguin. With no power for the electric lights, the house was a sea of darkness. Elsewhere in Slate, read Jessica Winters essay about her dying cat, an excerpt from Jon Katzs new book about a Rottweiler in need of rescuing, and Jason Bittels thorough investigation into bat sex. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the Mustelids family and in the Lutrinae subfamily. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! I'm a freelance writer with 8 years of experience. 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 . Their tails alone can grow to 24 inches!. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014 with degrees in English and Education. : They are huge eaters! 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. 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. Their gestation period lasts between 9 to 12 months. However, when you add seals that arent true seals to the mix, the presence of ears can be a confounding factor. Thats quite the size difference! River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. The one exception to these rules is the Marine otter (Lontra felina) these otters are the only species of otter outside the Sea otter that reside in and around saltwater environments. The sea otters legs arent made for walking, like river otters are, but for constant swimming. True seals use blubber deposits under their skin to keep themselves warm when theyre in the water, which is quite often. Still, these two mammals are very different from one another. In contrast, sea otters actually have one layer of fur, which happens to be the densest fur of any other known animal. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. We shouldn't draw the curtains over the aspects of animal behavior. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. Graduating Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theatre and a specialization in creative writing, I have an invested interest in a variety of topics, particularly Pacific Northwest history. Taxonomically speaking, there is actually only one species of sea otter! With this insight, you should have a better grasp as to what makes both river otters and sea otters special. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. A painful and confusing end for the poor pups. 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 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. 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. 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. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. 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. Ground squirrels, hyenas, and lions may eat infants of their own species just for a snack. They are commonly known as pinnipeds. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Well, they do. 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. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. WildlifeInformer.com is your #1 source for free information about all types of wildlife and exotic pets. Who will win? 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. They include; walrus, eared seals, sea lions, fur seals, and earless seals. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. As their name suggests, sea otters live in the sea! However, seals split their time on land and in the water almost evenly. 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. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. The North American River otter is classified as Least Concern meaning they have safe population stability as of today. 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. Enter your email and never miss an update. On average, river otters have two to three pups per litter with the pups going off on their own after about six months to a year. If a male cant find a mate because of his youth or inability to chase off competitors, Harris and co-authors suggest, he might search for a female surrogate that may take the form of a young otter or, as in their study, seal pups. Thanks for signing up for Ocean Conservancy emails. There are over 70 different species of cetacean. 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. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. If you travel further north to areas like the Alaskan seaboard, you could even find males weighing up to 100 pounds! River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. They are comparatively smaller in body size. Alaska sea otters are slightly larger than . Otters belong to the Mustelidae family while seals belong to the Phocidae family. They have a very thick layer of fur on their bodies that enables them to keep themselves warm during the cold season. While sea otters use their two webbed hind feet and tail to propel them through the water, the four webbed feet of river otters are what enable them to swim efficiently. River otters build dens on the riverbanks and care for their young there. Both are marine mammals and have lungs that they use to breathe. For if such awful displays occurred in nature, what might that say about our own actions? Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. They consume around 10 lbs of food per day. River otters keep their young safe by their side and in dens that they build on riverbanks, while sea otter moms typically keep their pups nestled on their stomachs as they float until they are old enough to swim on their own. 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. The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. . 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. when actual inflation is less than expected inflation borrowers quizlet. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. Their diets are reminiscent of their environments. The other two clawless otters are similar in size to river otters. Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. 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). Levick wrote an entire book about the seagoing birds on his return, describing the impression of the elegant avians like so: When seen for the first time, the Adlie penguin gives you the impression of a very smart little man in an evening dress suit, so absolutely immaculate is he, with his shimmering white front and black back and shoulders. But the species shocked and horrified Levick so much so that his four-page report Sexual Habits of the Adlie Penguin was purposefully omitted from the official expedition findings and distributed only to a small group of researchers considered learned and discreet enough to handle the graphic content. Some river otters can be found in wetlands and lakes. They have dense fur that enables them to keep warm. Males are larger compared to their female counterparts. Please try again 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. According to the IUCN, this can make it hard for otters to meet their high metabolic needs, leading to malnutrition or starvation.. While floating on their backs, sea otters not only nap, but also use rocks to help them . The average lifespan of a sea otter is twelve to fifteen years in the wild, but the average lifespan of a river otter is only nine to twelve years. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. Natural represents the world as it should besomething we feel estranged from and strive to get back. All otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. Thus, an otter is more closely related to a wolverine than it is to a seal. Given our ability to reason, we have the unique ability to decide the right and wrong of what we do. Male sea otters compete with one another for mates. 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.. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. Darwin knew this well. Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Site by Thrive Web Designs, Otters are one of the most fascinating and charismatic marine mammal species. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? These animals use both fur and blubber to keep warm, and that is one of many ways to differentiate between true seals and others. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . Otters use two layers of dense fur to keep warm when they are submerged in the water, and that is most of their lives. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. union county latest news 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. But this should not be so. The marine otter simply lives near the ocean, diving in only to feed. River otters also can often be found on the banks of the river. They have a body length of about 3 to 4 feet and weigh between 40 to 60 pounds. 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. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. 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. 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. On average, seals are larger than otters. 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. They are basically carnivores. A sea otter also has a shorter tail than a river otter, and river otters are narrower in their body mass. Length of Lions Mane Jellyfish vs Blue Whale. 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. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. They weigh 1-5 kg (2-11 pounds). 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. There are a few exceptions: The Galpagos fur seal and the Monk seal are both now have an Endangered status. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. Although described as the smallest marine mammal this species is quite large as otters go, reaching as much as 80 lbs. Sea Otter: We mentioned last time that sea otters are threatened by toxic algal blooms, which are exacerbated by climate change. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Trash Free Seas, Trash Free Seas Alliance, Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Urban Ocean and Clean Swell are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy. It is a grave mistake to see the so-called "depravity" of penguins, dolphins, and otters in the same way as our own behavior. launchpad classlink nmusd; cantonese text to speech; 15 second tv commercial script examples difference between sea otter and penguinups insurance cost calculator. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. Unlike the common otter, sea otter's feet are webbed. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, out of around 50 species of seahorses, all but one are vulnerable or threatened. They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. 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. 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. North American River Otters weigh between 10 pounds to 25 pounds and grow up to 3 feet in length. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. While it may seem obvious at first, you may not know all of the differences between a river otter vs sea otter. Please try The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. As Douglas and colleagues stressed in their preface to Levicks report, though, the behavior [displayed by hooligan males] is clearly not analogous to necrophilia in the human context. That fact can easily be lost when one is appalled by an animal acting out a human taboo. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). Otters spend the vast majority of their time in the water, and they even sleep in the water. Read the rules here. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. There are 33 species of pinnipeds alive today and, they too can be found on every continent on Earth! Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. When comparing the sea otter vs river otter, you may wonder if they the same animal. But if theres any marine vertebrate that wins the title of the squickiest, its dolphins. Still, the attempts to mate with seals requires an explanation. What is the difference between Otter and Seal? . Female otters in the California region can weigh up to 60 pounds, while males can weigh up to 90 pounds. The sentiments about proper human behavior were impressed upon the penguins, and vice versa. SeaQuest Blog Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. 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! 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. Otters are comparatively smaller while seals are larger in body size. 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. The maximum lifespan for male Nothern Elephant Seal is age 14; for females it is to age 20. Sea otters, conversely, are found only in salt water and rarely go on land. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. Otter endangered status varies by species and location. The identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. Yet, if the two creatures are closer in size, then you will need to rely on other methods of differentiating them. Sea otters are generally diurnal. Two out of those three species are now in decline. 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. The former can reach up to 5.6 mph (9 kph) underwater, while the latter, in North America, has a maximum speed of 8.7 mph (14 kph). Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Together, we create evidence-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. A post shared by Daniel Rosengren (@naturebydanielrosengren). 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. (36kg) and over 5 ft. (1.5M) in length.. Parents can be as bad as siblings. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. One of the main differences between a river otter vs sea otter is their species or genus classification. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. They eat 15% of their body weight a day. Thank you for reading! Not only is this useful for staying together, but it also keeps them away from the shore where many of their predators reside. Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. Sea otters must groom regularly to help maintain the insulation. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? 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. It might be because river otters have to fight the strong currents of a river and catch their food and fish. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. * {{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool.