difference between sea otter and penguin

Plus, their overall diets, lifespans, and locations differ from one another, not to mention how different they are in appearance! 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. Members of Phocidae are known as earless seals or true seals. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The American Oceans Campaign is dedicated primarily to the restoration, protection, and preservation of the health and vitality of coastal waters, estuaries, bays, wetlands, and oceans. Otters have long bodies and short legs, while seals have shorter bodies and longer flippers. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. The seal and otter are two animals that both love to call water home and have a face that can tell a thousand stories! The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. 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. 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. Its Easy To Do. We think of otters as the cute little aquatic creatures who float on their backs and rub their cheeks in viral videos. The largest river otters weigh in at around thirty pounds. Penguin: There are a lot of different types of penguins, and climate change is affecting all of them. If you see a vast creature, then its probably a seal and not an otter. You might not be able to tell by looking at them, but river otters and sea otters have very different fur. Seals spend less time in the water than otters. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. Seals belong to Phocidae, and otters belong to the Mustelidae, so they are not even close to being related. difference between sea otter and penguinups insurance cost calculator. While both species enjoy the company of many otters, sea otters form powerful partnerships with their chosen mate. Otters have webbed paws instead of flippers, visible external ears, and a long, thin tail that is easy to spot. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. Otters have dense fur that keeps them warm while seals have blubber that is deposited under the skin that keeps them warm. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. Have some feedback for us? Warming oceans and changing marine conditions due to climate change and ocean acidification make it harder for the whale, which has an exceptionally long migratory and gestation period, to prosper and further threaten the species survival. In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. Asian-small clawed otters can be found in India, China, and parts of Southeast Asia. Although its not a visible means of telling the creatures apart, knowing their family can help distinguish the creatures. 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. The identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. From their curious faces to their charming behaviors, the otters of the world have earned the title of many nature lovers favorite creatures. 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. Inside pregnant sand tiger sharks, for example, the first embryo to grow large enough rapidly devours all the other unborn sharks in its shared womb. 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. This isnt where their social behavioral differences end, however. It lives with its family for about a year. Protect the Arctic from Future Oil Spills. Otters mainly feed on invertebrates while seals mainly feed on fish. 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 will be in the sea, river otters will be in the river. The maximum lifespan for male Nothern Elephant Seal is age 14; for females it is to age 20. 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. Given their preferred habitats, this is only natural, though there are some dietary overlaps between sea otters and saltwater river otters. Though they may look similar, there are distinct differences between the two. The pups learn their mothers voice to avoid confusion of the mother feeding another seals pups. While a southern sea otters fur maintains heat well in the cold water, their metabolism must work quickly to help keep the animal warm. 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. We can find beauty and poetry in nature, but we can also find terror and savagery, all essential parts of the entire picture. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Sea otters commit to one another and raise one pup at a time. Theyre found along coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean ranging from California to Russia, and spend a majority of their time swimming, eating, and sleeping in saltwater. St. Patty's is coming Whats the difference between sea otters and river otters? All of this is only the barest catalog of common and widespread phenomena in nature that we often shy away from examining, as we have great difficulty divorcing our own sense of morality from a wilderness that does not and cannot share our values. Two out of those three species are now in decline. Please try The gestation period for otters lasts between 60 to 86 days while the gestation period for seals lasts between 9 months to 12 months. First, sea otters are two to three times the size of river otters and, when at the water's surface, they float on their backs, while river otters swim belly down like most animals. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 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). Get Out Your Green & Gold! Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. 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. But how do we tell the difference between river otters and sea otters? Make A Lasting Impact By Leaving A Gift To Ocean Conservancy In Your Will. Conversely, river otters mate with multiple partners during the course of their lives. In terms of colours, seals have thick fur coats that range from pale yellow to light grey and dark brown. Learn how to tell them apart quickly and easily! A post shared by (@seaotter_03112602). This only gets creepier given the recent suggestion that dolphins actually have names that they call one another. This is especially problematic in Monterey Bay, where there are more male sea otters than females. 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. Still, these two mammals are very different from one another. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Not to worry, friends. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg . These aquatic mammals split their time between the land and the water. Male river otters are extremely territorial, while sea otters form more friendships and bonds with one another overall. The distinction between these two is important: the sea otter will spend its entire life floating in the ocean, swimming, feeding, and reproducing. The ordeal must have been horrific for the seals. 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. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for . The largest sea otters can weigh up to one hundred pounds, but river otters are much smaller. Vote below. 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. When they are not in the water, river otters forage the land for food and build burrows or dens for their young. Asian small-clawed otters are just the opposite. 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. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. They average a length of 5 feet and weigh about 150 pounds. Given the violence and depravity were capable of, were not exactly models of morality. Their swimming mechanisms are also a little different. Seeing a dolphin at sea should be just as chilling as how many people feel when they see the sinuous silhouette of a shark. or contact 1.888.780.6763, Seafood Species Vulnerable to Climate Change. Or at least Im going to tarnish their reputation as some of the most charming little beasties in the seas. 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. 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. Have a question? From behavior and habitat to offspring and appearance, this article will detail the differences between these two otters. Fur seals are not members of Phocidae, and they are not true seals either. 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. union county latest news Which would you like to know more about? Sea otters are bigger and thus have larger feet than river otters. Seals have flippers, no visible external ears, and a very small tail. All contents 2023 The Slate Group LLC. Their gestation period is between 60 to 86 days. 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. We also share helpful tips and guides on a variety of topics related to animals and nature. Noun; A large body of salty water. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. 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. However, sea otters are only found in salt water and very rarely make their way onto land. What makes each species unique, and what are the signs that make each one recognizable? 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. When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. They feed on fish and shellfish. 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. Im going to ruin sea otters for you. Learn more. There are twelve different sub-species of river otter, but only three separate sub-species of the sea otter. Sea otters eat sea urchins, seaweed, clams, and crabs. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. This makes them very different animals, especially when you consider the fact that sea otters are the only members of their genus. Another significant difference is the number of offspring these creatures have. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! Both are adapted to keeping themselves warm in the water. To meet the wonderful sloths that call SeaQuest home, book your visit today at any of the following locations: Utah, Las Vegas, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Sacramento, Minneapolis, Connecticut, Lynchburg, New Jersey, and Atlanta. Still, these mammals are very different from one another, and were going to show you the differences between a seal vs otter. If youre on a river in the middle of the North American continent, far away from any seaboard: its a river otter. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. Levick recorded these behaviors as aberrations from the norm of nature. While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. 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.. For example, sea otters are much larger than river otters in both length and weight. 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 feed on fish, shellfish, penguins, and other marine creatures. They have blubber that is deposited below the skin. The dietary preferences and lifespans of river otters and sea otters differ as well. Please try again Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. Although seals and otters are often believed to be related, the truth is that they belong to completely different . 8 Fun Date Night Ideas in Salt Lake City. The sea otter does, however, have a shorter tail than the river otter. Whale: The North Atlantic right whales namerightcomes from the belief that it was the right whale to hunt. The Caribbean monk seal was declared. Parents can be as bad as siblings. Free shipping for many products! While both animals are classified as otters, river otters are members of the Lontra genus, and sea otters are members of the Enhydra genus. Male sea otters can weigh up to 99 pounds, while female sea otters typically weigh around 44 pounds. 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. For example, sea lions are sometimes believed to be seals, but that is not the case. Who will win? 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! There are about 33 species in this family. While it may be obvious, river otters are found in rivers while sea otters are found in the sea. The main difference between otter and seal is that Otters are comparatively smaller in body size while seals are comparatively larger in body size. For whichever animal wins, ClimateProgress will write a feature-length article exploring the story behind whats ailing your chosen critter, and who is working to save them. If you find these critters as otterly . It is slow moving, floats when killed, and is full of oil and baleen. In this article, we will address all of these differences in detail, including their physicality and social behavior. However, we noticed a conundrum that many readers seem to get themselves into. 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. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. The most famous in the United States, the California seal lion can be found all along the West coast of North America. ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). Animals Differences and Comparison for Kids. . hold hands with other otters so they dont drift apart, Watch Five Giant River Otters Face-Off Against a Huge Jaguar, Watch a Group of Massive River Otters Defeat a Crocodile in Vicious Battle, Weight: 10lbs-99lbs Length: 2ft-6ft, Blubber deposits under the skin keep true seals warm, -Dense fur that has two layers, guard hairs, and insulating underfur, Spend equal amounts of time on land and in the water, Spend the vast majority of their time in the water. In desperation, some male Adlie penguins tried to mate with the ground until they ejaculated. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. They are comparatively larger in body size. Sea otters mate for life, as many people know, but this is not the same for river otters. Giant Otters have a smaller lifespan in the wild at about 10 years. 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. They spend time in the water foraging for mollusks, fish, frogs and crustaceans. Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Adult sea otters may grow up to 5 feet in . While sea otters and river otters share many differences, they do share a major similarity the threats they face in the wild. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. 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. But this should not be so. Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. Did you know that sea otters mate for life? Im not saying any of this to put down these animals. Male giant otters average 26 to 34 kg (57-75 lbs. All rights reserved. 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). YES! Have some feedback for us? What is the difference between Otter and Seal? Sea otters are slow swimmers, while their river-living counterparts are rather agile. Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. However, there some traits and features that make them different from each other. They are very different from other mammals that share the seals name or lineage. Charming, outgoing, and intelligent, otters are part of the. The majority of river otters mate with multiple otters throughout the course of their lives, and they may have multiple litters in a year. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. Email Us, Board of Fisheries and Game: Actions & Activities, Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity Program, Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS), About the Division of Commercial Fisheries, Western Alaska Salmon Stock Identification Program (WASSIP), Online General Season & Registration Permits, Subsistence and Personal Use Fishing Permits, CSIS Community Subsistence Information System, The Technical Papers and Special Publications Series, Special Status page for northern sea otter. Giant Otters are the largest otter species and are very similar to large river otters. Lets take a look and some similarities, and differences, between these two amazingly fascinating animals! As their name suggests, sea otters live in the sea! Individual Behavior Grooming. Sea otters arent only heftier than river otterstheir fur is also quite distinguishable. The word pinniped means fin-footed or flipper-footed. They weigh between 45kg to 3,200kg. 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! They are purely carnivorous and eat a hefty diet of fish, crabs, small caimans, and small anacondas. 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. Why are these male sea otters killing seals? Sea otters have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom with up to one million hairs covering each square inch of their body. Thats quite the size difference! Many people may not know this, but sea otters are much larger than river otters. The key differences between seals and otters are size, family, and their method of thermoregulation. Asian small-clawed otters spend more of their time on land than in water, which helps keep a stable body temperature. Their slow, quiet and sudden way. River otters and sea otters also have habitat preferences in these unique ecosystems. 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. 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. While they are both otters, river otters belong to the Lontra genus, while sea otters belong to the Enhydra genus. 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). Another motherly difference is how these two creatures care for their young. The Northern fur seal and Nooded seal are vulnerable. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. They move to land to escape some predators like sharks. Maybe the bad behavior was just a rumor. But the general idea is the same: if the otter isnt floating in the ocean, its most likely a river otter, and vice versa! According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, out of around 50 species of seahorses, all but one are vulnerable or threatened. You may already have an idea as to what makes river otters and sea otters look so different from one another. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Seals themselves have been observed to cause similar kinds of trauma when groups of males mob females. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. difference between sea otter and penguin. Habitat loss, water pollution, deforestation, and hunting threaten their survival. They are basically carnivores. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. 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. Its as easy as that! What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? Otters fur has guard hairs on the outside layer that are used to keep them protected from moisture and to maintain body temperature. The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. 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. River otters also reach sexual maturity earlier and are typically able to reproduce sooner than sea otters.

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