river otter
Quick Summary
River otters are semiaquatic mammals belonging to the weasel family, Mustelidae. They are found in freshwater ecosystems across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. These otters have lithe bodies, short legs, and long, flattened tails that aid in swimming, along with webbed feet.1
River otters are opportunistic feeders, consuming fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, and mussels. They are adept swimmers and can also travel swiftly on land between bodies of water. While they can be found in marine coastal regions, they primarily inhabit freshwater environments. Unlike sea otters, river otters are not exclusively marine and can spend significant time on land. They typically reach sexual maturity between two and three years old and can have multiple pups per litter. Many otter species face threats from habitat destruction and pollution.123
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