Embedded Files
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
General Introduction
Habitat
Feeding Behaviors
What does the Otter eat?
How does the Otter
Nutritional Ecology Classifications
Discontinuous Feeders
Carnivores
Hunters
How do these categories connect?
Digestive Anatomy
Parts of an Otter
Teeth
Fur
Paws
General Introduction
General Introduction
Otters are fun and warm animals known for being playful and happy. They have webbed feet that strengthen their swimming skills and are often seen on their backs to preserve warmth with their two layers of incredibly dense fur. They are designated as either a sea or a river otter with over 13 different species between the two distinctions. Otters can weigh up to 57 pounds and often average around 6.6 pounds. They are able to have up to 5 pups and live up to 12 to 27 years old (Hughs, Brent B).
Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivore Family: Mustelidae
Habitat
Habitat
Otters reside near the shore waters of the North Pacific along with rivers. From California to Japan, Otters prefer shallow confined areas such as shores, bays, and inlets. They remain in large families called a bevy or a raft, as they are social and friendly animals that preserve warmth and survival by sticking together. Otters are known to be found in underground dens, holts, hollow trees, or holes other animals previously resided (Darlington Mariam).
🐟 Feeding Behaviors 🐟
🐟 Feeding Behaviors 🐟
What does the Otter eat?
What does the Otter eat?
The diet of the otter includes a variety of sea creatures, such as fish, turtles, crabs, cray fish, frogs, and sea urchins. They can be found searching in shallow areas and deep crevices for these aquatic animals.
How does the Otter acquire food?
How does the Otter acquire food?
Sea otters often break off prickly pins of a sea urchin by spinning around. They also break open shellfish open by banging the shell against hard surfaces. Click the picture to view a video!
🌱 Nutritional Ecology 🌱
🌱 Nutritional Ecology 🌱
The nutritional ecology of an otter relates to its feeding behavior because an otter's diet and eating habits are closely connected to the food that is available in its specific ecosystem of either the sea or a river. For instance, they developed the ability to break open shellfish to be able to access the soft insides.
Discontinous Feeders
Discontinous Feeders
Otters are considered discontinous feeders as they hunt for their food every meal. They eat large meals and identify where to find food later. Otters each a variety if animals, meaning they never know what to expect until they start hunting!
Obligate Carnivores
Obligate Carnivores
Otters are traditionally carnivores, as they only eat shell fish and other sea animals. They will occasionally try other plants that they come across, but will strick to fish.
Hunters
Hunters
Otters are smart hunters! They use their paws to hold whatever doesn't fit between their sharp teeth. Using their whiskers, they can find food in dark river waters. They'll then be resourceful and bang shellfish they find on rocks to break them open.
↑ How Do These Three Categories Connect? ↑
↑ How Do These Three Categories Connect? ↑
Extreme agility also comes with a fast metabolism. Many otters are often found eating, hunting, or preparing to eat. While lying on their back, they preserve energy and often hunt slowly in order to do so. Because of this, they often go after shellfish, as they need to constantly eat in order to maintain a healthy body weight and energy amount.
Digestive Anatomy
Digestive Anatomy
Otters have monogastic stomachs as they are carnivores as shown in Image 1. Sea otters are unsacculated hindgut fermenters.
They are large consumers and target lower-energy prey in order to preserve their own energy that their fast metabolism burns off quickly. Because of this, they consume 19-23% of their body weight (Robert Elise Silva).
Image 3 shows a chart of the average consumption of proteins and lipids an otter will consume for energy from shellfish (LaRoche, Nicole L).
Parts of an Otter
Parts of an Otter
Teeth
Teeth
Otters have flattened molars that they use to crush their food rather than sharp ones to tear through. They can fracture, stain, and break teeth due to the rough shells of many shellfish meals.
Fur
Fur
To make up for their lack of blubber, otters have two layers of fur to keep them warm. The outer layer will get wet in the water, while the inner layer is so thick it will remain dry, keeping the otter warm.
Paws
Paws
Otters have extremely strong paws. Using their retractable claws, otters will use their paws to hold onto their prey and snag them from difficult areas to pry shell fish open to eat.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse