River Otter Facts

River otters have streamlined, serpent like bodies. River otters have flexible bodies which allow them to easily groom themselves. River otters have four relatively short legs, that allow them to swim, walk and manipulate prey. They have webbed digits and strong, non-retractile claws on all four feet. River otters are 34-60 inches long and weigh between 7-30 lbs. The largest river otter is the North American River Otter at 39-60 inches long, while the smallest river otter is the Marine Otter which is typically 34-45 inches long.

Both male and female river otters form separate dominance hierarchies. River Otters eat crayfsih, crabs, fishes and frogs. River otters may also occasionally prey on birds, rodents and rabbits. River otters eat 15-20% of their body weigh every day.

River Otters can remain under water for up to 8 minutes. River Otters can travel long distances over land, they can “run” on land up to 29 mph. River Otters can be either diurnal or nocturnal, more often than not they are active at night.

Male and female river otters become sexually mature after two to three years but they do not typically reproduce until they are five to seven years old. River Otters gestation is about two months. River Otter pups weigh 4.6 oz. River Otters are born helpless and spend their first several weeks sleeping and nursing in the den.

About the Author
Jacob Maddox manages content for Wildlife Animals http://www.wildlife-animals.com an educational wildlife and animal website. Jacob also guest writes for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net