The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Otters can be found in unpolluted waters all over the world in marshland, freshwater rivers, lakes, oceans and coastlines. 1. Warm air trapped in a sea otter’s fur keeps them warm in chilly waters.When otters dive, they seal their ears and nose.The word otter comes from Old English and Indo European root words that were also used to create the English word for water.Otters have the densest fur in the world. But what if I told you that there was so much more hiding under that adorable surface? In a bizarre turn away from their normal diet, there are some otters in the Shetland Islands in Scotland which have been known to hunt rabbits instead of fish. Nature, unfortunately, isn't always pretty. It’s quite common for a mother and her pup to hold each other’s hands so that they don’t drift away from each other while they sleep. Many of them basically fill their days finding for food. Sea otters can hold their breath underwater for more than 5 minutes, and river otters can hold theirs for more than 8 minutes! Otters can have up to one million hairs per square inch. Just like us, river otters need clean water and fresh food each and every day. Nowadays this technique is still practiced in Bangladesh, where trained otters are used to chase fish into fishing nets. The mammals like to keep things organized within their communities and will designate certain areas to be used as latrines. Historically otters have been used by humans to aid in the process of fishing all over the world. Corgi dogs are undoubtedly cute and for a small furball, they have a ton going for them. Female otters can be called sows or bitches, and male otters can be called boars or dogs. In California's Monterey Bay, where scientists observed otters trying to copulate with the week-old bodies of dead baby seals, there are far more male otters than females. As cute, clever and friendly as otters may seem, otters are wild animals and are ill-suited to a domestic life. Otters have been known to guard and have sex with the bodies of their victims for up to seven days after they've died. We all know that sea otters are pretty darn adorable, but here are a few fun things you may not know about them: Only one otter species seems to be thriving, and that's the North American River Otter. The Asian Small-Clawed Otter pups, born in late August, are still on display to... PetsOttersAnimal LoverAnimalsAnimals BeautifulAnimals WildAnimals FriendsCute CreaturesFunny Animals They may sometimes come to shore, but they spend the majority of time in the water, hanging around kelp forests. There are 13 species of otters and most of them are on the endangered list. In 2014, a study of giant otters found that the river-dwellers have 22 distinct noises they make for different situations. Let's celebrate these adorable creatures! The behavior doesn't stop when the seals die from the trauma. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Cuteness! Otters are the dogs of the water world, so it’s no small wonder that we humans have such affection for them. When otters are born they can either be called pups or kittens. Otter pups always provide for a generous helping of "pile-on". Otter, any of 13–14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family and are noted for their playfulness. You'd be absolutely barking mad to not check out these 12 captivating facts about Corgis. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Otters have the densest fur of any animal—as many as a million hairs per square inch in places. Otters love to eat shelled animals, like clams, but they aren't equipped with the strength to open their food without some help. In Bangladesh, otters help fisherman maximize their haul. The otters, which need to consume 25 percent to 35 percent of their body weight every day in order to maintain their metabolism and keep themselves warm in the cool waters, are divided into three "dietary guilds": Deep-diving otters that dine on abalone, urchins, and Dungeness crab; medium divers who subsist on clams, worms, and smaller shellfish; and those that stay in shallower waters, feeding on black snails. River otters are much more likely to take another animal’s home instead of building their own. Otter Facts and Information. The sea otter is one of the few mammal species on Earth to use a tool to help it hunt and feed. But now, scientists are using unmanned drones with cameras to get an aerial look at otters in their element, making it easier to monitor the creatures as they dive for food and go about their day. Otters are known to be pretty incredible hunters, living off a diet of mostly seafood. There are 944 cute otter art for sale on Etsy, and they cost $24.76 on average. It can grow up to 2.4m (8ft) long from nose to tail. There are so many cool facts about otters that it’s no small wonder they’ve become a bit of an internet sensation. Once thought to be gone from the area completely, southern sea otters—known as California sea otters—have been making a comeback in recent years. The area in the bay where the scientists observed the most otter-on-seal mating sessions was also where there was a high population of transient male otters, ones that, unlike more dominant males, don't have an established territory filled with potential mates. Otters use their dung—known as spraint—to communicate with other otters. … THERE ARE 13 SPECIES OF OTTERS, AND JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM ARE DECREASING.. Only one otter species seems to be... 2. Some say it’s the least offensive smelling poo of the animal kingdom, while others say it’s the absolute worst. cute facts about otters cute facts about otters. It wedges a rock between its chest and the “armpit” of a foreleg and pounds shells against it to open them up. This ancient religion considered otters to be the dogs of the river or sea and had strict rules forbidding the killing of otters. There are 519 cute otter clothing for sale on Etsy, and they cost $24.84 on average. ZOROASTRIANS THOUGHT THE OTTERS TO BE NEARLY SACRED CREATURES.. Generally the tail will make up about one third of the body. Introduction to Otters. Sea otters can grow between 34 and 60 inches in length. But some, particularly in present-day Canada and Alaska, viewed the river otter "with awe and dread" and associated the creatures with the undead and drowning. In 2001, a female otter at the Monterey Bay Aquarium gave birth to a stillborn pup on the same day a stranded pup was discovered in the wild nearby. The population of otter is decreasing day by day and that is very unfortunate information for us. Thirteen different species of otter exist all around the world. The most popular color? There’s also no single collective noun for them – if there’s a group of otters on the water they are called a raft, but if they’re on land they can be called a bevy, family, romp, or lodge! So, if nearly all of the otter species are vulnerable to extinction, you may … Two species are marine; the others live mostly in fresh water. Otters also have particularly stinky poop, which even has its own name: spraints. Otters spend a large amount of time in the water, yet they still have fur. The father is usually chased away soon after a litter is born though, and the mother takes care of them until they’re about a year old. © 2021 The Fact Site | All Rights Reserved | Sitemap, The Fact Site requires you to enable Javascript to browse our website, 5 Celestial Facts About Triton - Neptune's Largest Moon. Learning Colors! Therefore, they are big on tools and will often use rocks to help crack into dinner. Over the course of a rough winter, he meticulously documented many species, and while some have since gone extinct (like a sea-cow he described that was hunted into extinction), the adorable otter was among his initial discoveries. The most common cute otter clothing material is ceramic. Otters can also hold their breath for as long as 5 minutes underwater. – http://bit.ly/ADVENTUREKIT Order Coyote's NEW book - http://bit.ly/KINGOFSTING Please SUBSCRIBE NOW! There are many cute and cuddly animals out there, but not many can upstage the sea otter. It’s key to their survival to eat such great quantities, especially for sea otters, as they use up so much energy keeping themselves warm. Consider all the otter facts you know: they’re very cute, love to play, extremely great bellies, etc. Here’s a compiled list of the witty, cute, and commonly-used names for otters. It ranges from 250,000 to a million hairs per square inch, according to the Defenders of Wildlife. Groups of about 5 to 10 otters live together in dens or burrows beside a river. The most popular color? While they hunt for food underwater, they’ll often store a rock in the skin under their arms for later use. Why Doesn't The U.S. Use The Metric System? The giant otter is the largest of all the otter species. Otter pups have so much air trapped in there, they actually can’t dive under water, even if they want to. You’d think this would pose a problem for a species which spends the majority of its time either in water, or hunting in water, but apparently not! A lot of species of otters were once at risk of becoming extinct due to their highly sought-after fur. They’re actually part of the weasel family, but they’re the only ones that swim! Squirrels plant thousands of new trees each year simply by forgetting where they put their acorns. Cute! While this usually happens after the previous animal has moved out, they are known to move into beavers dams while they’re still using them! They are the heaviest member of the weasel family with an average weight of about 99 lbs. For centuries, fisherman have been training otters to act as herders and chase large schools of fish into the nets. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. They make 22 different … To ensure that they stay dry they must spend a significant portion of the day grooming themselves, coating their fur in saliva. While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves. Males can weigh up to 70 lbs. These fuzzy little guys are unfortunately at risk though, so if you’re feeling inspired by these facts go and read more into them, and see what you can do to help! Despite their cute appearance, otters are the top predators in coastal watersheds, rivers, and wetlands. Generally, a group of otters on land will go by a romp, while a group hanging in the water is called a raft. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. btstaehyung, btsjhope, btsfanfic. It's not uncommon for female otters to die as a result of these aggressive encounters, either through drowning or from their wounds becoming infected. National Geographic: North American River Otter 3. Among the most notable calls: a "hum gradation" used to tell otters to change directions and a "Hah!" Famous for their spikes, they play an important role in our ocean’s ecosystems. Scientists say that its smell is like that of violets. Furry, playful and very, very smart, otters are beloved for their adorable antics and sweet appearance. Spraint scents can vary, but often are (relatively) pleasant—one expert described them as not "dissimilar to jasmine tea." Let’s hope they don’t develop a taste for people! Shash WightonShash is an avid traveler and enjoyer of all good things life can throw his way. Sea Otter is an animal that was first discovered in 1751 by Georg Steller. The other 12 otter species were recently identified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as having decreasing populations, and five otter species are already on the endangered list. Cute Wee Otter. The Sleep Habits of Your Favorite Animals [Infographic], 12 Captivating Facts About Corgis That You Should Know, 10 Encouraging Health Benefits Of Exercising, 200 Fun Facts That’ll Actually Make Your Life Better. 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