otter

Introduction
Freshwater otters
Saltwater otters
Conservation and classification

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Witness the playful gliding and fishing of river otters in a freshly thawed North American river

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

At a Glance

otter summary

Quizzes

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

Ultimate Animals Quiz

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Deadliest Animals Quiz

Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

Wild Words from the Animal Kingdom Vocabulary Quiz

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Related Questions

How do river otters catch crabs and crayfish hiding under rocks?
How do river otters differ from sea otters in body shape?
How do river otters travel between separate bodies of water?
How do river otters use their tails differently from sea otters?
How do river otters use their whiskers while hunting?
How do sea otters help kelp forests flourish?
How do sea otters produce extra body heat without shivering?
How do sea otters use rocks to open shellfish?
How do webbed feet help most otter species move in water?
How does an otter’s flattened tail help it swim?
How does dense fur keep sea otters warm in cold ocean water?
How does polluted water affect the fish that otters eat?
How does the marine otter differ from the sea otter?
How large can sea otter rafts become?
How long do sea otter pups depend on their mothers?
How many otter species do most authorities recognize in the subfamily Lutrinae?
How many otter species live mainly in freshwater habitats?
How many pups can a river otter have in a litter?
How might regular latrine sites help river otters communicate?
What do sea otters eat besides sea urchins?
What human activities cause many river otter deaths?
Where do giant otters live?
Where do river otters rest and shelter?
Which animals are common prey for river otters?
Which countries signed the 1911 North Pacific Sealing Convention to protect sea otters?
Which mammal family includes otters?
Which otter species belong to the genus Lontra?
Which otter species is the largest freshwater otter?
Which otter species is the smallest?
Which predators can threaten young river otters?
Which two otter species are strictly marine?
Why are oil spills especially dangerous to sea otters?
Why are sea otters much heavier than most river otters?
Why can large numbers of sea otters compete with shellfish fisheries?
Why do African clawless otters rely more on their front feet than on vision?
Why do marine otters stay close to shore?
Why do mother sea otters wrap pups in kelp before hunting?
Why do river otter diets change with the seasons?
Why do sea otters float on their backs while eating?
Why do sea otters need to eat so much food each day?
Why do sea otters sometimes hold each other’s forefeet while resting?
Why is the classification of the Congo clawless otter debated?
Why must sea otters groom their fur so carefully?
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What is the coyote’s conservation status?
What are some threats to coyote survival?
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Science Mammals Carnivores

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External Websites

AZ Animals - Otter
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment - Otters
San Diego Zoo Animals and Plants - Otter
Woodland Trust - Otter
LiveScience - Facts About Otters
World Animal Foundation - All About Pet Otter - The Truth Behind Keeping Them As Pets!

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Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

otter - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
otter - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

otter

mammal

Also known as: Lutrinae

Written by

Serge Lariviere

Director General, Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Board, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada.

Serge Lariviere

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 28, 2026 •History

otter, (subfamily Lutrinae), any of 13 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are noted for their playful behavior. The otter has a lithe and slender body with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flattened tail that helps propel the animal gracefully through water. Swimming ability is further enhanced in most species by four webbed feet. Two species are marine, and the others living predominantly in fresh water....

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