 |
|
By: Carter
|
|
|
By: Carter
|
|
|
|
|
7 Levels of Classification |
|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Mustelidae |
| Genus | Lontra |
| Species | canadensis |
|
|
|
Description |
|
The North American river otter has a long streamlined body, with thick tapered tails. They also have small legs. The river otters have rounded heads and ears and nostrils that can be closed off while swimming in the water. They have a long and think vibrissae. Their fur is dark brown to almost black above and light color ventrally. The throat and cheeks usually are golden brown. Their fur is dense and soft. Their feet have claws, and are totally webbed. Their body length ranges from 889 to 1300 millimeters and a tail length from 300 to 507 millimeters. The weight ranges from 5 to 14 kg. Males are averaged lager then females in all measurements. |
|
|
|
Habitat |
| The North American river otter can and will live any were there is a permanent supply of food and a easy access to water. They can live in fresh water and costal marine habitats, including rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and estuaries. They can tolerate a verity of environments, warm and cold latitudes. The North American river otter is very sensitive to polluted areas they will move away from these areas. They build dens and burrows of other mammals, under logs or is river banks. Dens have under water entrances and a exit to the nearest chamber that is lined with leaves , grass, etc. |
|
|
|
Range |
| The North American river otters are rare or extinct through out much of eastern, central, and southern United States. Also Mexico in the delta areas of the Rio Grand and the Colorado river. |
|
|
|
Food |
| They eat aquatic organisms like, amphibians, fish, turtles, crayfish, crabs, and other invertebrates. Birds , their eggs, and small terrestrial mammals are also eaten on occasions. They sometimes eat aquatic plants. |
|
|
|
Life Cycle |
| -First the otter is born (blind), in a den near water.
-The babies open their eyes after 4 weeks. -They begin to swim after 2 months. -The pups stop nursing after 3 to 4 months. -Finally the pups are set free from their mom at one year old.
|
|
|
|
Survival |
| The survival of the North American river otter in the wild is from 8 to 9 years. But in captivity they can live up to 21 years old! |
|
|
|
Facts |
| Here are some facts about the North American river otter. The mother gives from 2 to stay 3 cubs or pups. The otter babies are called either cubs or pups. These otters mostly hunt alone. When the North American river otter swims it can close of its ears and its nose. The river otter can stay under water for over 3 minutes. Since otters are mostly in water, when they come up on land they walk funny. |
|
|
|
Human Impact |
| Negative impact: North American river otters generally
don't have adverse affects on humans.
Positive impact: The North American river otter has been hunted for years, for their durable. In 1983-84 hunting season, 33,155 otters were taken with an average selling price of $18.71 per pelt. Otters are still an importance resource of income for many people in Canada and the Western United states. River otters also eat "trash fish" that complete with more economically desirable game fish. |
|
|
|
References/Links |
| Click
Here to go to the Odyssey Home page
Click here to go to our Mammal Index Click Here to go to our Student Index References Works Cited Canada,
Thunder Bay. Lakehead University. <http://http://www.borealforest.org/%20zoo/otter.htm>.
Dewey,
Tanya, and Eric J. Ellis. Animal Diversity Web. 1995. The
University of Michigan. 2 Feb. 04
<http://http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Lontra_canadensis.html>.
Ecosystem
Trends adn Response: cheasepeake Bay.
9 Feb. 2004 <http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/pub/info/facts/chesapeake/>.
Habitat
and Range. south Burlington. Odyssey Home Page. 9 Feb. 2004 <http://fhtms.sbschools.net/users/bwight/2002/emmab/animal_habitat_and
range.htm>. New
Orleans Zoo--Miscellaneous. 12
Feb. 2004 <http://http://www.photo.net/summer94/new-orleans-zoo-misc>.
Postanowicz,
Rebecca . Lion Crucher's Domain. 1997. 9 Feb. 2004 <http://www.Lioncrusher.com/animal.asp?animal=167>.
"The
life of an otter." The World Book Encyclopedia. 21 vols.
Chicago, London, Sydney, Toronto: World Book, inc., 1993.
the
North American river otter. Otter
sand butterflies. 9 Feb. 2004 <http://www.ottersandbutterflies.co.uk/otters/gallery1.ht>.
s the
river otter. University of
Leicester. 9 Feb. 2004 <http://www.le.ac.uk/biology/ staff/rrh/res.htm>.
West,
Lizabeth. North American River Otter. State of Florida. Florida
Wild Life Magazine. 12 Feb. 2004 <http://http://www.floridawildlifemagazine.com/species/riverotter.htm>.
Wittenbrink,
Chris. Asian small-clawed river otter. <http://http://www.otternet.com/ROA/visitingzoos.htm>.
River Otter. 1997. Alaska, Alaska River Otter. 19 Feb. 2004 <http://http://www.ak.b www.zooish.com |
|
For comments or questions contact Bob McGowan at bmcgowan@sbschools.net
|
