river otter biology

The otter’s fur is thick but fine, lustrous deep brown to almost black in color, with the exception of the chin and throat which are lighter. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. The tail is highly muscular and comprises up to 40 percent of the otter's total body length. Once they implant, fetal growth lasts 60 to 65 days until the kits are born, usually in spring (March through May) in most areas. They inhabit lakes, rivers, streams, bays, estuaries, and associated riparian habitats. Sea Otters :: MarineBio Video Library Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) River otters stay in family groups during the summer and early fall. Future genetic analysis of scat collected on all of the nearshore islands and the upper Cape will provide valuable information on connectivity between these populations. They have an elongated, thick, neck with long, narrow head and small eyes, small, tapering ear which is rounded at the tip, pointed, short tail; and broad, webbed feet. A third eyelid, or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter to see when swimming underwater. Females have 4 mammae on the upper chest and are slightly smaller than males. While river otters tend to live alone or in pairs, they often socialize in groups and are known for their playful behavior. Regionally extinct throughout the Midwest and heavily populated areas in the east, several states have recently begun reintroduction programs. River otters leave scent marks on vegetation within their home range. Popular AMA APA (6th edition) APA (7th edition) Chicago (17th edition, author-date) Harvard IEEE ISO 690 MHRA (3rd edition) MLA (8th edition) OSCOLA Turabian (9th edition) Vancouver. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. Their extirpation from many areas is believed to have been related more to poisoning by pesticides bio-magnified in fishes, and to the indirect adverse effects of water pollution on fish, their main food, than to excessive harvest. Despite their name, they inhabit more than just rivers. At this point, they eat solid food but are not completely weaned for another month or two. Between 1999 and 2004 a study into the behaviour and reproductive biology of a pair of Giant river otters was carried out at Cali Zoo. The fertilized eggs float around in the uterus for about 9 months before implantation occurs, rather than implanting on the uterine wall shortly after fertilization. Females are roughly one-third the size of males. The diet of the river otter throughout its range is primarily fish. Otter Spotters help the River Otter Ecology Project keep track of the lively creatures, whose population was decimated by trappers and pollution. Answers: 3 on a question: River otters drink about 5 times as much water as a bald eagle drinks in a day. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. Change style powered by CSL. Protect local waterways by using fewer pesticides when caring for your garden or lawn. River Otter (Lutra canadensis Schreber) From: Saunders, D. A. Captured prey are brought to the surface for consumption, with the abdomen used as a table. Otters reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age. Webbing is greatly reduced on the front feet. When threatened or frightened, they emit a hair-raising scream that can be heard up to 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) across the water. On the website of her small nonprofit River Otter Ecology Project, the reports of sightings pour in, from anglers and dog-walkers and nature lovers and amazed suburbanites: Hey, I just saw an otter! After the Clean Water Act of 1972, they River otters on our study area exhibited clear evidence of space sharing, suggesting that individuals in this population were neither solitary nor territorial. River otters eat mostly aquatic organisms, including fish, frogs, crayfish, turtles, insects and some small mammals. The Japanese river otter ... Ecology and biology Habits. Lutra canadensis Status . (1.29m) for males and 3 ft. 8 in. 1999) and released 346 river otter from 1994 to 1996 in central Illinois (Fig. With the tail's strong, undulating movement, a river otter propels itself through the water as fast as 8 miles (13 kilometers) pe… River otters have been blamed for decimating game fish populations and are seen as a pest to eradicate by many game fishermen. Female otters prepare dens that they keep scrupulously clean. About River Otter Ecology Project. River otters usually mate in the months of March and April. River otters are found throughout most of North America from the Rio Grande to Canada and Alaska, except for in arid deserts and the treeless Arctic. The reproductive biology of river otters, as in other Mustelids, is unusual in that they exhibit delayed implantation. Otters are found from Newfoundland to Vancouver Island and north to Yukon Territory. An otter's tail is long and tapered, thickest where it joins the body and furred its entire length. The Giant River Otter only lives in three river systems: the Amazon, Orinoco and La Plata. Density & Home Range Size. How much water can a river otter drink in three days? The Otter Project > about sea otters > biology of the southern sea otter biology of the southern sea otter . They have prominent whiskers just behind and below the nose, thick muscular necks and shoulders, and feet that are webbed between the toes. When a female otter is in her most fertile state it is referred to as estrus. Native to both Newfoundland and Labrador. Socially, the basic group is the female and her offspring. Our first goal for The River Otter Ecology Project was to convene a broadly-based group of experts in conservation, population biology, marine mammals, tracking and genomics to help guide our research. North American river otters are known for their playful swimming, but they are also an important species for helping scientists understand the health of river … The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. Gestation lasts about 60 days, and the young, called kits, are born almost 1 year after conception. Otter are carnivores, feeding on fish, crayfish, frogs, insects, small mammals, mollusks, and blue crabs. When Andrew Rutter took a full-time wildlife ecologist position at the Lake County Forest Preserves in 2017, he expected his work studying river otter ecology would come to an end. River otters are chiefly nocturnal, but they frequently are active during day-light hours in undisturbed areas. Like other carnivores, their teeth are well adapted for grinding and crushing. A nocturnal creature, an otter only left its den after dark to forage for food. As of 2016, ROEP has catalogued more than 1,730 sightings and added to that tally close to 5,000 camera-trap videos and photos and roughly 1,300 samples of otter scat. At the center of the range in California, sea otters spend 40-50% of each 24-hr period foraging, although in more recently occupied areas at the edge of the range they may feed as little as 20% of the time. The loss of ponds and other wetland habitat that resulted from the extirpation of beaver in the late 1800s may have adversely affected continental populations of river otters more than any other factor. The male otter is generally chased away until the young are weaned and old enough to leave the riverbank, at which time they may return and help raise the pups. The otters are thriving—the water is relatively clean, the populations of fish are good. Claiming a territory about ten miles in diameter, it marked the area with its droppings about one to three miles apart and sets up three or four nests under rocks or inside bushes. Science of The Total Environment, 408(3), pp.537-542 . It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. Journal. Tools, commonly rocks, may be used by some individuals to break into hard-shelled prey, especially marine snails. maximum weight of 45 kg. Kristin Moore, a UNM undergrad, and Jerry Dragoo, a research assistant professor in UNM’s biology department, performed a DNA analysis to confirm or refute the field identification. The male reproductive system contains a penis, testes, scrotum and more while the female reproductive system contains a vagina, ovaries, etc. 100 Montrose, CO 81401 We hope you will join us in this important work. They have long, streamlined bodies, short legs, and a robust, tapered tail, all of which are well adapted to their mostly aquatic habitat. otter biology and history ^ Otters were once plentiful across most of North America but due to trapping pressure in the late 1800’s and early 20th century, these numbers dwindled. Webbing is greatly reduced on the front feet. Description. Not only are we seeing the return of the River otter to many areas, but also that it is possible for humans and otters, to co-exist in the same areas. The river otter food chain includes many types of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic plants and roots, eggs, and some small mammals and birds. That home range shrinks drastically during breeding and rearing season. FAST FACTS. As a public health precaution due to COVID-19, all Smithsonian museums will temporarily close. Unlike sea otters, river otters are capable of covering great distances on land. California sea otter: Enhydra lutris nereis Alaskan sea otter: Enhydra lutris kenyoni Russian sea otter: Enhydra lutris lutris: Body size. Educational Activities You Can Do at Home, About the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Your Go-to Guide for a Winter Day at the Zoo, Pouncing On Enrichment: Stories from Real-Life Zoo Gaurdians. Their vocalizations include chirps, grunts, and loud piercing screams. Fertilization is internal with the otters meaning the male releases the sperm inside the female. Sexual maturity in young is believed to occur at about 2 years of age in females, but later in males. Recent research, however, indicates that otters prefer slower moving, easier to catch fish, such as suckers and catfish found along river bottoms, and pose no threat to game fish. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. Change style powered by CSL. Increases in the range and numbers of river otters in response to the return of beaver has been dramatic, particularly in the southeastern United States. Litters usually contain 2 to 4 kits, and the female alone cares for the young. Breeding Biology Following breeding and fertilization in spring, eggs (blastocysts) exist in a free-floating state until the following winter or early spring. Otter fur is a rich, dark brown and is lighter on the … River otters are most common in North America, and they are different from their sea otter cousins that are found in Monterey Bay. Their long, agile bodies enable them to quickly twist , turn, roll and dive, and they are frequently seen sliding or burrowing in the mud or snow. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter.They are found throughout most of North America – from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. It represents our guide to managing otter populations in Pennsylvania for the next 10 years. Even when our gates are closed, we are still here, working as always to save species. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Our organization is not affiliated with any other otter-related research group or community outreach organization. Young are born between April and May and arrive silky black, blind, toothless and totally helpless. River Otter Habitats - Biology bibliographies - in Harvard style . Adults were river otters ≥ 2 years old and subadults were river otters < 2 years old. SEA OTTER BIOLOGY. Two litters were reared with older siblings in the family group. The face is broad, and the eyes protrude slightly. River otters exhibit a variety of vocalizations, ranging from whistles and buzzes to twitters, staccato chuckles, chirps and growls. By becoming a member, you'll help the Zoo save species and get great benefits for you and your family each time you visit! 1988. Sea otters feed on benthic invertebrates and typically dive to the bottom to forage, although they may also pull prey off emergent rocks, kelp stipes or kelp canopy. Estrus can last anywhere from 20-56 days. Mammals and birds are rarely eaten. Washington, DC 20013. As our little bundle of joy explores his habitat, help us celebrate his milestones with a gift today! Food. The reproductive biology of river otters and all other weasels is complex because of a characteristic known as delayed implantation. The pelage(covering, or coat, of a mammal, whether of wool, fur, or hair) is brown or reddis… These otters are frequently observed playing and sliding together. Because they have a low tolerance for polluted water, river otters are considered by some naturalists to be a good indicator, or "keystone," species of the quality of aquatic habitats. The teen’s mother, biology teacher Casina Ewert, ... One of the two domestic dogs that encountered the river otter was a puppy that had to be euthanized after the incident. They spend much of their time feeding and at what appears to be group play, repeatedly sliding down steep banks of mud or snow. 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