difference between sea otter and penguin

There are so many amazing creatures that dwell in the waters of planet earth, and some of may seem so similar in nature, yet they are difficult to tell apart. The identity of a pair of repeat offenders held a clue. The reason for this skew in the population is unclear, but it leaves male sea otters in a bind. Southern sea otters are considered an endangered species, while Asian small-clawed otters are vulnerable. In other species, post-hatching battles begin almost immediately. More commonly known as seals, they are a widely distributed and diverse group of fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals. I cant say I look forward to the day when scientists discover dolphin slurs. There are 13 species of otters. Lets dive in and get started! ), while females average 22 to 26 kg (49-57 lbs.). They may look similar, but they are two different creatures. Have some feedback for us? Sea otters are mainly native to the northeastern seaboards of the Pacific Ocean, so they aren't spotted in areas like the East Coast or the Gulf of Mexico. A 2010 study found that a toxin found in blue-green algae called microcystin had killed at least 21 California sea otters. Decreasing sea ice cover is preventing Emperor penguins from finding food and sheltering their babies. SeaQuest is committed to protecting our worlds oceans and endangered animals. They are found all over the world and live in all waters both the arctic and subarctic. 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. Previously, Brian Switek has written about mammoth end-times, and how feathery, fluffy dinosaurs killed the brontosaurus. A river otter mother usually has between two and three babies, called pups. It lives with its family for about a year. Seals are larger than otters on average, and the largest members of the species make otters look positively tiny. Their familial units are very strong, while river otters tend to lead solitary lives. River otters actually have two layers of short, coarse fur. 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. Both otters have their own adorable way of caring for their young and making them feel at home, too. But sea otters relationship with climate change goes two ways. difference between sea otter and penguin. Without a doubt, dolphins are jerks. 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. Well, they do. The largest otter, the river otter, only weighs about 100lbs when it reaches its full weight, and it grows about 6ft long. 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. They are also known as fin-footed mammals. Darwin knew this well. It has "toes" on its feet. Contact us today. and weighing just 1 to 5 kg (2.2-11 lbs.). Otters have paws and external ears while seals have flippers but do not have visible ears. The underfur is the layer closest to the body, and this fur functions to insulate their body and keep warm in very cold conditions. In fact, the largest members of the seal species make otters look quite tiny. They are both weasel family members, as evident by their long, slender bodies. Sea otters are generally diurnal. When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet. Conversely, sea otters only give birth to one pup and care for them until they are between eight and twelve months old. Some local populations, such as Gray seals in the Baltic Sea, are endangered. The Mustelidae family is very unique and encompasses about 70 different species of animals including otters, wolverines, badgers, and more. One naturalist was so thoroughly disgusted with the sexual behaviors of Adlie penguins that his observations were hidden from view for almost a century. Please try 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. However, river otters can swim in saltwater if there is an ocean near their preferred river habitat. Sea otters also notably have two very large back feet, webbed and streamlined for paddling and swift swimming in unpredictable ocean waters. Taxonomically speaking, river otters and sea otters are different genera. This is an important distinction to make, as sea otters are especially clumsy when they get on land! When it comes to having pups, one fact that distinguishes sea otters from river otters is the number of pups they have per litter. 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. 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. 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. 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. Please try again 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. The victims that were necropsied by veterinarians had lesions around the nose, eyes, flippers, and genitals, including perforations in the vaginal and rectal tracts. Shocking behavior isnt the sole province of marine mammals. Most seal species are currently not considered endangered, according to the IUCN Red List. Today, were in round two of the Sweet Sixteen, and the winners of our Fins and Flippers division are going head to head. 5 Honest Difference Between Mouse Poop and Rat Poop with Similarities, 10 Difference Between Dog and Fox (With Table), 5 Difference Between Bed Bugs and Scabies with Similarities, 15 Differences Between Plant Cell and Animal Cell, https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/what-uc-santa-cruz-learning-about-otters, 7 Difference between Lice and Ticks (With Table), 9 Difference between Leopard and Snow Leopard (With Table), 10 Difference between Hippopotamus and Rhinoceros (With Table), 5 Difference between Farm-Raised and Wild Salmon (With Table), 7 Difference between Earthworm and Leech (With Table). They feed on fish and shellfish. Did You Know. They have a fat layer called blubber under their skin that makes them keep themselves warm during the cold season. Decades of efforts to help the dark gray baleen whale recover through international protection have done little to improve the species prospects. This makes people think that it is the same animal. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. Wildlife Informer is reader-supported. Only your votes can decide who moves on for a chance at a deep-dive feature story. Not to worry, friends. 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. It may seem obvious, but if all else failsthe fastest way to tell what type of otter youre observing is to examine its environment. Next, the tail of a sea otter is short and flattened; a river otter . We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. unit 3: personal and business finance grade boundaries. : Love to snack on small fish found close to shore banks, as well as amphibians such as frogs, and crustaceans such as crawdads. 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. Still, these two mammals are very different from one another. 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. 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. This results in river otters having short, sleek fur, while sea otters have long, fuzzy fur. The Key Differences Between Seal vs Otter. 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. 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. They can grow up to 4 feet and weigh up to 70 pounds. Later researchers rediscovered what Levick had seen. Strange as it may seem, mating is a relatively common cause of death for female sea otters as well. Seals are larger than otters, weighing a lot more than them and growing much longer. When you click and buy we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. They are agile and flexible due to their four limbs and streamlined bodies. 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.. 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. Many species of river otter inhabit coastal areas and are sometimes confused for sea otters. We focus on how to be proactive in finding solutions. An adorable detail about sea otters is the fact that they hold paws when sleeping to avoid drifting away from their familial units. Otters spend the vast majority of their time in the water, and they even sleep in the water. 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). 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. Seals primarily eat fish, while otters eat a variety of items including fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and small mammals. Its Easy To Do. Plus, visit our Arctic fox and see how his coat changes throughout the year. And always keep in mind where youre looking if youre at the ocean, chances are youre looking at a sea otter as opposed to a river otter. Seahorse: Last time we talked about seahorses, we mentioned their fragile coastal ecosystemscoral reefs and mangroves, for instance, are especially vulnerable to disturbances brought on by warming ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased flooding. 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. The sea otters legs arent made for walking, like river otters are, but for constant swimming. 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. : Feed on frogs, crabs, crayfish, and shellfish. Both seals and otters can vary a great deal in their sizes owing to their various species. Please try It may seem obvious, but the best way to tell if youre looking at a river otter or a sea otter is just paying attention to the body of water youre observing! According to the IUCN, this can make it hard for otters to meet their high metabolic needs, leading to malnutrition or starvation.. Their scientific name, Pinnipeds, says it all. RETWEET for Penguin or FAVE for Sea Otter #CPMarchSadness http://t.co/lzQh1SAaxZ pic.twitter.com/D7Tlow3Pad, Climate Progress (@climateprogress) March 27, 2015. Welcome back to March Sadness, ClimateProgress educational bracket tournament of animals impacted by climate change and other environmental threats. A fully grown otter weighs between 14 to 45 kg and this makes them the heaviest member among the smallest marine animals. Partially due to that, its believed to be the most endangered cetacean in the world, a category that includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises.