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Otter are members of the weasel family. Otters
are semiaquatic or aquatic mammals which feed
on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates,
amphibians, birds and small mammals.
Otter Classification:
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Lutrinae
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Other Names: Kelp Grizzly,
Otter in Foreign Languages:
Albanian: Lundërz
Czech: Vydra
Danish: Odder
Dutch: Otter /Otterbont
Estonian: Saarmas
Finnish: Saukko
French: Loutre
Gaelic: Dobhar-chù / Madadh Donn
/ Dòbhran
Galician: Lontra / Londra
German: Otter
Hungarian: Vidra
Icelandic: Otur
Indonesian: Linsang
Irish: Dobharchú / Madra Uisce
/ Dobhrán / Dobhráin
Italian: Lontra
Latin:Llutra
Latvian: Udrs
Malay: Memerang
Navajo: Tábaastíín
Norwegian: Oter
Old English: Oter
Old Irish: Doburchú
Polish: Wydra
Portuguese: Lontra
Romanian: Lutra / Vidra
Sardinian: Lontra
Slovak: Vydra
Slovenian: Vidra
Spanish: Nutria / Lutria
Swedish: Utter
Turkish: Su Samuru / Lutr
Welsh: Dyfrgi
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Species: There are currently 13 species of
otters.
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Size: River otters measure 35 to 53 inches in
length. The largest of the 13 species of otter is the
giant otter, reaching a length of up to 1.8 m and known
as the river wolf in Peru. The smallest is the Asian
small-clawed otter, less than a meter long.
Habitat: Otters are widely distributed. They
are found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica.
River otters are found near inland waterway, as well
as estuaries and marine coves. Sea otters are found
along coastal, shallow waters.
Description: Otters have long, slender bodies
and relatively short limbs, with webbed paws that are
used for swimming. Otters have thick fur that has two
layers to insulate their bodies from the cold. An otters
tail is typically about one-third the animal's total
length.
Diet: Sea otters will feed on sea urchins, crabs,
clams, mussels and octopuses. While river otters will
eat fish, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, small
invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals.
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Communication: Otters communicate using
a variety of squeals, chirps, chatters, chuckles,
screams, and warning growls.
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Did You Know?
An otter's den is called a holt or
couch.
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Gestation: Otters carry their young for 60 to
86 days.
Birth: An otter family including the mother,
father and siblings all participate in the care of the
young.
Sexually Mature: Female otters reach sexual
maturity at approximately two years of age, while male
otters are sexually mature around three years of age.
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Life Span: Otters live approximately
16 years.
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Did You Know?
A male otter is a dog, a female a bitch,
and a baby a whelp, kit, or pup.
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Social Structure: Otters are highly social creatures.
Sea otters gather in groups of 10 to more than 100,
called rafts.
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