While females often live with their young, groups of males often congregate with one another. 1984. Otters are stll an important source of income for many people in Canada and the western United States. While otters prefer to dine on slow-moving fish (which are easier to catch), they will also eat game fish, crustaceans and mollusks, aquatic reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects, and smaller semi-aquatic mammals as availability dictates. Being aquatic in nature, this species is confined to places that have permanent water. The vibrissae are long and thick, reflecting their importance in sensory perception. (Credit: Keenan Adams, U.S. Taxon Information 61. Males generally have larger home ranges than females. Ellis, E. 2003. The ADW Team gratefully acknowledges their support. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by colour family 1982. Within the National Forest System (NFS), a sensitive species is a plant or animal whose population viability is identified as a Olive is a female North American river otter that came into the aquarium’s care from a wildlife rehabber in Scotland County who took her in following an injury. (NatureServe, 2008). Body length ranges from 889 to 1300 mm and tail length from 300 to 507 mm. young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. North American River Otter Lontra canadensis Range. Length. They are able to live in a variety of different habitats, including rivers, lakes and large creeks. In water, especially along the Gulf Coast, crocodilian reptiles are real threats. Today, a large number of otters are found in the United States and Canada. Help us improve the site by taking our survey. They are found throughout most of North America – from the Rio Grande in Northern Mexico to Canada and Alaska. fertilization takes place within the female's body. Eric J. Ellis (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Macdonald, Dr. David. The adult North American river otter has a head-body length of 26 to 30 inches, and a tail that is 12 to 17 inches long. Wild Otters: Predation and Populations. North American river otters live near permanent watersheds throughout North America, from Alaska and northern Canada south to the Gulf of Mexico. They are presumed extirpated in New Mexico and population status in South Carolina and Florida has not yet been reviewed. As otters consume large numbers of other animals with low levels of toxins, these accumulate in higher concentration in the otters as many of them are slow to be removed from the body via excrement and urine. Accessed Otters are playful animals, often seen burrowing through the snow, sliding through mud and splashing in the water. Their feet have claws and are completely webbed. North American River otters typically do not have life partners, and may mate with several partners in a season. Their scientific name, Lontra Canadensis, means “Canadian Otter”. They vocalize with whistles, growls, chuckles, and screams. River otters also eat "trash fish" that compete with more economically desirable game fish. "Lontra canadensis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. In Mex­ico they are found in the delta areas of the Rio Grande and Col­orado river. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) at Florida's Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The North American river otter ( Lontra canadensis), also called the Canadian otter, is the most abundant species of otter. a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation. Due to this delay, a year may pass between breeding and birth. Threats. uses smells or other chemicals to communicate. Sighting one can be an exciting occasion for boaters, fisher- men and other outdoor enthusiasts because of the creature’s secretive nature and relative rarity in some waters. Otters belong to the Mustelidae family of carnivores, which includes wolverines, minks, ferrets, badgers, and weasels. 1995. Giant otters (genu… North American River Otter. The species is also prese… Prey is captured with the mouth, and mainly slow, non-game fish species are taken, e.g., suckers. An adult river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). While North American River otters are rather high up on the food chain, they do in fact have several natural predators. They have wide, rounded heads, small ears, and nostrils that can be closed underwater. Males and females come together to breed in late winter or early spring. These otters normally hunt at night, but can be seen at all times of day. River otters (genus Lutra) inhabit all types of inland waterways, as well as estuaries and marine coves. They also scent mark using paired scent glands near the base of their tails or by urinating/defecating on vegetation within their home range. The North American otter inhabits much of the United States and Canada, from the Pacific to the Atlantic Coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to northern Alaska. They can live in freshwater and coastal marine habitats, including rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and estuaries. River otters can tolerate a variety of environments, including cold and warmer latitudes and high elevations. the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic. The body is covered with short, red-brown hair. Eurasian otter - Wikipedia Reported sightings of sea otters in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound almost always turn out to be North American river otters, which are commonly … Search in feature The river otter Lontra canadensis is an elusive species that can serve an important role in aquatic ecosystems as a top predator of fish and crayfish. Otters were locally extirpated from portions of their range but reintroduction and conservation efforts have helped stabilize populations. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Some lives in the forested areas of Pacific coast of North America. 240 pgs. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Constantly on the move, river otters may cover as much as 26 miles (a Marathon!) Males average larger than females in all measurements. 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. North American river otters have been hunted for many years for their attractive and durable fur. Kruuk, Hans. They may eat smaller kills in the water, but bring larger ones to shore. Males and females do not associate except during the mating season. The North American river otter is the most numerous of the otter species. In Canada, they can be found in every province and territory except Prince Edward Island, where they appear to be extirpated. River otters are also valued as a game species and furbearer (Melquist et al. Mammals of the Northern Rockies. It has a long, slender body covered in brown, water proof fur. The Animal Diversity Web team is excited to announce ADW Pocket Guides! Conservation & YOu Least Concern (IUCN) Even with stable populations the North American River Otter still needs help keeping their populations safe. Females give birth to, nurse, and care for their young in a den near the water. Range and habitat. Although pregnancies only last around 2 months, female otters often practice “Embryonic diapause”, wherein they delay sperm implantation for 8-10 months. Population trends have stabilized in recent years and reintroduction and conservation efforts have resulted in recolonization of areas where they were previously extirpated. North American river otters generally do not have adverse affects on humans. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis; hereafter, river otter) is the focus of an assessment because USFS Region 2 classifies it as a sensitive species. Nowak, Ronald M. 1991. Typical habitats include lakes, rivers, marshes, and coastal shorelines. River otters often socialize in groups, engaging in playful behavior and communicating with a variety of vocalizations. a wetland area rich in accumulated plant material and with acidic soils surrounding a body of open water. at http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. They prefer unpolluted water with a minimal human disturbance. Tanya Dewey (author), Animal Diversity Web. North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals with long, streamlined bodies, thick tapered tails, and short legs. After centuries of exploitation of otters for their commercially lucrative coats, human activities continue to threaten them, though today many of these threats are indirect, and the fur trapping industry has been altered in the wake of commercial fur farms, consumer preferences, environmental lobbying, and governmental regulations. Otters are usually found no more than a few hundred meters from water. 3 – 4 ft. Conservation Status. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria. In contrast to their very short legs in relation to their body sizes, otters’ tails are usually around a third of their entire body lengths. Active burrowers and hunters year-round, otters are more active at night during warmer months, and more at night during the winter season. reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female. This includes a wide range of habitats, from rivers, streams and creeks, to coastal … Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Almost all North American River otters live in wetlands close to bodies of water. communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them, breeding is confined to a particular season, reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female. Birds, their eggs, and small terrestrial mammals are also eaten on occasion. They can also weigh anywhere … having the capacity to move from one place to another. They are excellent swimmers and divers, able to stay underwater for up to 8 minutes. NatureServe, 2008. seaweed. Wernert, Susan J [Editor]. Ge­o­graphic Range North Amer­i­can river ot­ters occur through­out Canada and the United States, ex­cept for areas of south­ern Cal­i­for­nia, New Mex­ico, and Texas, and the Mo­have desert of Nevada and Col­orado. They also use touch and communicate through posture and other body signals. River otters are the residents of North American inhabiting across coastal and waterways in the Atlantic States, Gulf of Mexico, Canada, and Pacific Northwest. Mountain Press Publishing Company. Pgs 1135-1137. Classification, To cite this page: Additional support has come from the Marisla Foundation, UM College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Museum of Zoology, and Information and Technology Services. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. North American river otters build dens in the burrows of other mammals, in natural hollows, such as under a log, or in river banks. The young are weaned at about 3 months old and begin to leave their mother at 6 months old. The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is delighted to welcome a new otter into its fold. North American river otters seem to be sensitive to pollution and disappear from areas with polluted waters. the nearshore aquatic habitats near a coast, or shoreline. Oxford University Press. Despite receiving a conservation status of “least concern”, across much of its natural range the North American River Otter is becoming an increasingly rare sight to see. In southern Chile the marine otter is found almost exclusively along exposed rocky seashores; farther north it may inhabit estuaries and fresh water. By the early 1900s, river otters had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North Americ… Disclaimer: The United States and Canada; Habitat. North American river otters occur throughout Canada and the United States, except for areas of southern California, New Mexico, and Texas, and the Mohave desert of Nevada and Colorado. marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds. They live in riparian zones, which are the areas that border stream, rivers, … 11 – 30 lbs. Terrestrial predators of otters include black bears and a variety of Feline and Canine species, domesticated and feral alike. Range The North American river otter occurs in much of Canada and the United States, except for portions of the Southwest, and in Mexico in the Rio Grande and Colorado River delta areas. North American river otters also currently inhabit coastal regions throughout the United States and Canada. An extremely adaptable animal, otters tolerate hot and cold climates, as well as high elevations and lowland coastal waters. Many "play" activities actually serve a purpose; some strengthen social bonds, others practice hunting techniques or serve to scent mark. In Mexico they are found in the delta areas of the Rio Grande and Colorado river. As a predator well up in the wetland food chain, North American River Otters are especially susceptible to environmental toxins, such as agricultural pesticides and motor vehicle exhaust and oil run-off. The North American river otter is found throughout North America, inhabiting inland waterways and coastal areas in Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Atlantic states, and the Gulf of Mexico. "NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life version 7.0" River otters are frequently caught in beaver traps on accident. A North American river otter's home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but a typical territory is 3 to 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock.com By Tom Hale 30 Nov 2020, 20:04 Although largely exterminated in the Midwest, reintroduction programs are helping river otters … The fur is dense and soft, effectively insulating these animals in water. living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. Climate change also plays a role, as some wetlands are becoming increasingly dry, others actually receiving too much rain, and rising temperatures are changing the flora and fauna demographics within all. River and waterway pollution and habitat destruction are major factors affecting the river otter … The conservation status of the North American River Otter is classified as least concern. They open their eyes at one month of age and are weaned at about 3 months old. Like coyotes, otters often were depicted as “trickster” characters in Native American folktales and mythology. gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate), body parts are source of valuable material, © 2020 Regents of the University of Michigan. Home range sizes vary considerably and seem to depend on the richness of food resources and habitat quality. 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