by Angie Pollock

Created on: May 07, 2009

The otter is a water and land mammal from the mustelid family which also includes skunks, weasels, and badgers. The otter is one of the larger species of this family of warm-blooded animals. The river otter inhabits freshwater areas while the larger sea otter can be found swimming in oceans and while both can be found on land, they spend a majority of their time in the water.

Freshwater Otter

The freshwater otter can be found on every continent excluding Australia. There are different types of river otters depending upon their location. The American otter ranges throughout North America and Alaska with a large population inhabiting Canada. River otters are more common than their cousin the sea otter.

The otter's characteristics make it highly adaptable to life on the water-from their webbed feet to their dense fur. The fur is one of their most important features and they will spend plenty of time grooming to keep their coat in pristine condition. Their fur, ears, and nose are all specially made to keep them warm and airtight while taking to the water. The ears and nose have a skin-like valve that closes to keep the water out while they dive for food. This unique mammal is able to stay under water for several minutes before having to reemerge for air.

Rarely seen during the winter months except in Alaska where it is active year round, the otter makes its home inside log and holes dug into the side of river banks. However, it is not uncommon to see this creature take over an abandoned beaver lodge. Their home tunnels where it ends with a den area that is used for caring of baby otters. A mother otter will typically have three young in a litter which are cared for inside the den. When the otter cubs are old enough, the parent otters teach their young to swim and catch fish. Otters are extremely quick and agile swimmers that allow them to catch fish which is their main source of food.

The Eurasian otter found in Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia is another species of the freshwater otters. The appearance and characteristics of the Eurasian otter is quite similar to that of the American otter. The numbers of Eurasian otters have increasingly declined due to pollution of their water habitat which has killed off the fish that the otters need to survive.

Other freshwater otters include the South African giant otter, African clawless otter, and the hairy-nosed otter of Asia and Sumatra. The African clawless otter only has very small claws

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