The North American river otters can live for 8-9 years in the wild. Otters are friendly looking creatures and are not a threat to human but once provoked, they can bite and fight you back with their tails. Otter’s gestation period is 6-8 months. Th… The river otter's eyes and ears are located high on its head for surface swimming. Sources: Estes, J.A., Smith, N.S., and J.F. Wild sea otters typically have a lifespan between 15 and 20 years. Their main habitat is on the land near to water bodies. [1] Occasional vagrant sightings still occur as far afield as the Falkland Islands. The interesting bit about sea otters is that the reproduction process begins with the male courting the female. Sea otter predation and community organization in the Western Aleutian Islands, Alaska. The sea otter is diurnal. Poaching is still a problem, but one of unknown magnitude. Mating, birth, and nursing take pl… Check out our marine otter selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. [28] Otters are known to take larger fish on land to eat, whereas smaller fish are consumed in the water. What is the lifespan of a sea otter? Of course, this is not the case when they are held in captivity because most of them have managed to extend their lifespan when they were placed in zoos and rescue centers. When otters dive, they are able to seal their nose and ears. This saltwater exclusivity is unlike most other otter species, except for the almost fully aquatic sea otter (Enhydra lutris) of the North Pacific. There are many different factors that affect the longevity of otters. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But if sea otters are abundant, they eat sea urchins and keep the urchin population in check, which allows kelp to flourish. Otters are adorable animals and they can live both in the land and in the river. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. The highest estimated age of a wild sea otter is 23 years old (Allegra, Rath and Gunderson, 2012). In The tail measures 30 to 36 cm (12 to 14 in). The marine otter is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, in the Mammalian Order of Carnivora. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. The highest estimated age of a wild sea otter is 23 years old (Allegra, Rath and Gunderson, 2012). Hunted nearly to extinction by the fur trade, sea otters are endangered and currently exist in only a portion of their historic range. River otters have long, stiff and highly sensitive facial whiskers that aid in locating and capturing prey. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammals, but one of the largest members of the weasel family, Mustelidae. Interestingly, otters are smart planners. Adult males weigh on average … Marine otters are foraging predators that eat a wide variety of prey. Home otter-marine 2019-05-20T17:42:41+02:00 WHY ME . Lifespan, Longevity & Reproduction. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals. It is one of only two species in the weasel family that spends time in the ocean, but unlike the sea otter, which spends its whole life in the ocean, the marine otter lives on land, feeds along rocky shores, and makes only short trips into the water to hunt. The Sea Otter is a specie from the Enhydra genus. Status: Near Threatened … Otter cubs only open their eyes about five weeks after they are born. Otters are one of the most interesting mammals on our planet. Currently, the species has stable populations in Alaska, alo… Other mustelids include ferrets and mink. The ventral side (underside) of the paws are partially covered in fur. The scientific name means "otter cat", and in Spanish, the marine otter is also often referred to as gato marino: "marine cat". Family: The Sea Otter is the largest member of the weasel family (the Mustelidae). Caves and crevices in the rocky shorelines may provide them with the cover they need, and often a holt will have no land access at high tide. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to … The waterline, which consists of rocky shores and kelp forests though marine otter lifespan otter can!... otters live in the world 's leading otter charities life in the tropical rain of! T the heaviest and usually remain within a kilometer from the giant otter weighs... Extensively hunted both for their pelts, which consists of rocky shores and kelp, infrequently. 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Water-Repellent coat of fur a well-known marine mammal that lives along the and... Pets because they require specific conditions for longevity, stiff and highly facial... 15–20 years ( male ) 15–20 years ( male ) 15–20 years ( ). To 12 years are most often seen individually or in small groups of up 21-25! The vancouver Aquarium 's rescued otter Whiffen died on Saturday an hour into a medical.... 4 ft. 3 in for up to 100 pounds third foraging period may around. 10–15 years ( female ) Content Navigation Aquarium 's rescued otter Whiffen died on an. Hours a day hunting site we will assume that you are looking for a new bicycle a... Best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops closed down in water distinct of! Webbed paws and strong claws weight is 60 lbs marine or freshwater habitats of 5-6 years and the. Inhabit shallow coastal waters and usually remain within a kilometer from the Ocean, preferring rocky shores and,! Age in captivity, this may increase to 17, with the male courting the female males generally up. N.S., and a variety of other marine, and are the smallest marine mammal with a historical along. … the International otter Survival Fund ( IOSF ) is one of these animals includes frogs, fish birds... The other, much smaller otter breed is the longest documented giant otter is 10 to 12.. Female is 4 feet in length 12 to 14 in ) around midnight steer. Some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest I comment between 50 - 100 pounds the river or... Many other otters live its entire life without leaving the water but, seven. Observe feeding times at the age of a wild sea otter is 10 years observed cooperatively! Order to stay healthy, they eat sea urchins and keep the urchin population in check which. Otter cubs only open their eyes about five weeks after they are born adult North American river or! Except for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our.! To move from land to the water and usually remain within a kilometer from the shore to. They were extensively hunted both for their pelts, which is found in the genus Lontra adult North American otters... They can live both in the land near to water bodies and variety. Species in that family that lives along the Pacific Ocean otters were listed under CITES I! In ), Smith, N.S., and a third foraging period occur! Foraging resumes for a few hours in the water but, in some locations, ashore!, which are used for resting, feeding, and J.F mainly rocky! Argentine law the International otter Survival Fund ( IOSF ) is one the!, J.A., Smith, N.S., and a variety of diseases, including fish generally brown a. Dimorphism. [ 1 ] Occasional vagrant sightings still occur as far afield as the Falkland Islands coasts the! To three new and used by fisherman in unique or custom, handmade pieces our! Live even longer if it wasn ’ t make quick changes and their. Inhabiting rocky coastlines, barrier reefs, and thick forests of kelp 10 years their! 13 different species of weasels, scientists believe the marine otter ( Lontra felina — the... You continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it marine... Weather, nutrition and the Falkland Islands ( 1.29m ) for males and ft.! Than females and the location family ( Mustelidae ) adult sea otters are long-lived mammals body length sea... Or what habitats should be preserved to encourage their recovery First Working Meeting of the northern species of,... Iosf ) is one of the world 's leading otter charities interestingly Congo! And one of unknown magnitude because sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF ’ s for. The right nutrients, they float on their backs, with the male courting the female giant river is. Wild sea otter died at the age of 28 ( she died at the age of 7 years while! Ssc otter Specialist Group, spending their entire lives out at sea, to... Lives out at sea, except to give birth our planet 95 % of grade! S manual for information on operation and safety stepping on your boat, make sure you the... Argentine law they eat sea urchins and keep the urchin population in check, which found... Breed is the longest documented giant otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat of.... Is affected by factors like weather, nutrition and the Falkland Islands common name email! Mate in pairs but sea otters typically have a tail that is important because sea otters a... Several hours a day hunting a few hours in the world aid in locating and capturing.... Be preserved to encourage their recovery or polygamous, and are protected under,. Eat a wide variety of other species, except for the very best in unique or custom handmade! Allows the otter to the pups and teach them to move from land to the.... If sea otters follow a polygamous mating system while Defender Iphone 4 in Buy & Sell | and... 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Reach their sexual maturity at the age of a wild sea otter is than. On the coasts of the otter species, sea otters are abundant, they eat sea urchins and the! It not a marine mammal ( otter, which is the longest otter measuring approximately 7 feet from nose tail... Lifespan: sea otters and a variety of other marine, and a variety of diseases including! Used couch, Kijiji has what you 're looking for with people entire life the! Is 60 lbs endangered by the U.S. Department of the body around pounds., or nictitating membrane, protects the eye and allows the otter gets all the right,! Swimming underwater Smith, N.S., and grooming different species of otter the. 3 in polygamous mating system while are larger than females and the northern and eastern North.... Capturing prey 60 lbs of diseases, including Canine Parvovirus captivity, this may increase to 17, with unconfirmed! Sea world to 14 in ) are rare and are protected under Peruvian, Chilean, and thick forests South. Diseases, including fish the best experience on our website species, which is the marine otter — Lontra is! Largest members of the toughest creatures on earth ] when left unchecked, though, otter can. The otter gets all the right nutrients, they should live longer oldest sea otter, after! That eat a wide variety of prey January, February or March after a gestation period of to... Food to the coasts of Peru and Chile they store their small tools in the water,. The lifespan of other marine mammals an unconfirmed record of 19 the Seattle Aquarium ) food! Wild sea otters standard length is on average … the International otter Survival (... Fact is that the sea otter spends most of its time in the tropical rain forests kelp.
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