|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Seven Levels of Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Musteldae |
| Genus | Lontra |
| Species | Lontra canadensis |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
 |
|
Description |
| The Northern River Otter is a semi aquatic animal. They have thick tapered tails, and short legs. They have wide rounded heads, and small ears. There nostrils can be closed while under water. Their vibrissae are long and thick. Their fur is dark brown almost black on there back and belly and it's fur is a light golden brown on it's throat and cheeks. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
 |
|
Habitat |
| Northern River Otters are found anywhere there is a permanent food supply and easy to access water. They live in fresh water, and costal marine habitats like rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and estuaries . River Otters tolerate a variety of environments. River Otters are very sensitive toward pollution. In areas where there is a lot of pollution River Otters disappear. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversty.com
|
|
|
Range |
| River Otters have large home ranges, Between 2km-78km. Rivers Otters are constantly on the move within their range. The sizes of their home ranges vary considerably depending on the richness of food resources, and habitat quality. Despite their large range there only slightly territorial. They generally practice mutual avoidance. They live in almost all of the U.S.A and most of Canada. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
 
|
|
Food |
| They eat mainly aquatic organisms such as amphibians. They also eat fish, turtles, cray fish, crabs. They also eat other invertebrates. They eat birds and their eggs, small terrestrial animals are also eaten occasionally. Some times they even eat aquatic mammals. To crack the shells of crabs, otters carry a flat stone in a special pocket near their arm pit to beat at the shells. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
info also from Encyclopedia of Animals
 |
|
Life cycle |
| The River Otters mate in the spring, and the baby begins to develop in early fall. The babies are born blind and helpless, and are nursed by the female for 1 month. Then it begins to venture out side of the den. They rough house and play in shallow water. The mother teaches the little pups to swim. They live 10-15 years in the wild and as long as 25 years in captivity. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
info also from www.google.com
 |
|
Survival |
| The things the River Otter needs to live are well structured landscapes with places to hide. They also need easy to reach water. They need a permanent food source too. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
  |
|
Facts |
| Some interesting facts about the River Otters are they can hold their breath for 8mins. underwater. They also have specially adapted lenses in their eyes to accommodate underwater distortions. The River Otter Floats together in groups called rafts. They have webbed feet. There ears and nostrils can close while under water. They are in the weasel family. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.animaldiversity.com
  |
|
Human Impact |
| They pollute the water which River Otters live in so the River Otter has to leave. They destroy the homes of some of the animals the River Otter eats. Humans also hunt River Otters for their pelts. They destroy the environments that the river otters live in by building houses. |
pictures from www.google.com
info from www.google.com
for more reference go to www.animaldiversity.com and type in River Otter
some info from The Encyclopedia of Animals
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
|
For comments or questions contact Bob McGowan at bmcgowan@sbschools.net
|
