North American River Otters
(L. Canadensis)
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Catherine Smith and Lacey Shannon
Catherine Smith and Lacey Shannon
Introduction
Introduction
North American river otters are amazing creatures. They are semi-aquatic animals and can be found throughout North America and Canada. The river otter is a mammal that has thick protective fur to keep them warm when they are swimming in colder waters. They have brown-to-grey fur, short legs and webbed feet to help them swim in the water. They have claws which allows them to grasp their prey. They also have a long, strong tail that propels them through the water. They can swim as fast as 8 miles per hour. You know what is amazing?! River otters can hold their breath and stay under water for as long as eight minutes. On the otters face, they have long whiskers to help them detect prey in dark or cloudy waters. River otters have a very flexible body. They are able to make quick, sharp turns which lets them catch their prey fast.
River otters also spend some time on land. They actually run fast for being an aquatic animal. They can run up to 15 miles per hour and they can slide even faster than that. River otters also have a way to communicate to others which involves many different ways. They will vocalize by whistling sounds, growls, chuckles, and screams. They will also communicate by their postures and their body signals.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nwf.org%2FEducational-Resources%2FWildlife-Guide%2FMammals%2Fnorth-american-river-otter&psig=AOvVaw1KQLk3S60sCJWJ3nzTc5my&ust=1591896480471000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNCT9NXi9-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thoughtco.com%2Friver-otter-facts-4692837&psig=AOvVaw1KQLk3S60sCJWJ3nzTc5my&ust=1591896480471000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAMQjB1qFwoTCNCT9NXi9-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
Dionaea muscipula
Dionaea muscipula
Below is a visual table to the taxonomy of the North American river otter. This table lists the Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. The North American river otter has many common names. Those names consist of the northern river otter, North American river otter, Canadian otter, land otter, and fish otter. This taxonomy rank explains the different levels of the North American river otter. As you go down each level of the taxonomy, the ranks becomes less general within its category, and the descriptions become more specific. The river otter is placed into the animal Kingdom category, but then is placed in each descriptions going down to be more specific on where it belongs.
Niche and Habitat
Niche and Habitat
The North American river otter can be found in the waterways and coast of North America and Canada. Their aquatic habitats can be both salt and fresh waters such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. The river otter has a high metabolism, so they need to eat often. The otter has been known to eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds, and reptiles such as turtles. Bobcats, alligators, coyotes, raptors, and other large predators will sometimes prey on North American river otters. The river otters help the environment and ecosystems by being a predator. This means the river otter plays a role of controlling the population of food species they prey on. This action allows the ecosystem to remain healthy and balanced.
A North American river otter's home range can be as large as 30 square miles (78 square kilometers), but a typical territory is 3 to 15 square miles (4.8 to 24 square kilometers). During breeding season, late winter or early spring, the river otters are known to minimize their home range even more.
North American River Otter Range Map
(North America and North Carolina)
https://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/carnivores/otter_north_american_river.html
https://www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/mammals/river-otter
Evolutionary History
Evolutionary History
The Northern American river otter's fur is very important to them. They groom themselves when they are on land. Their fur is insulated and water repellent. There is a layer of fat that is below its fur that helps them stay warm. Cold waters do not need to reach their skin because it can cause them to lose warmth which, can be deadly. River otters also have fur on their feet to help keep them warm and to gain better traction. When river otters enter cold waters, they lose body heat rapidly. In order to maintain body temperature, or to keep body temperature from dropping to low, the river otter must eat frequently during the day. If the otter does not eat often during the day, they will lose heat faster than it can be replaced, which can result in permanent harm and consequences.
Environmental Impacts
Environmental Impacts
North American river otters are harmed by the environment, but they also help the environment in many ways than we know. They are considered to be on the top of the food chain. They eat a variety of species. They are able to regulate the amount of species in an area. They eat the species which keeps the populations down. If the river otter was taken out of the ecosystem, the whole ecosystem would slowly fall. Taking one animal out does not seem like it would do much harm to the environment, but it will. Everyone plays a certain roll to control what is in an area.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zoonewengland.org%2Fstone-zoo%2Four-animals%2Fmammals%2Fnorth-american-river-otter%2F&psig=AOvVaw1KQLk3S60sCJWJ3nzTc5my&ust=1591896480471000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNCT9NXi9-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbaynature.org%2Farticle%2Fwelcome-back-otters%2F&psig=AOvVaw1KQLk3S60sCJWJ3nzTc5my&ust=1591896480471000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCNCT9NXi9-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAV
Conservation
Conservation
North American river otters are hunted by humans. They were hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries and they are still hunted today in some places for their fur. River otters were uprooted from their homes because they were being drawn out by humans. River otters homes are also being destroyed. Their habitats are being destroyed and the waters they live in are being polluted.
Today, river otters are under the conservation list and are protected to help repopulate the species. Their homes, such as waterways and the surrounding woodlands are regrowing. Because of the protection, water qualities are improving and their homes, such as waterways and the surrounding woodlands, are regrowing. Although, we can see improvements, they are still at risk for being harmed.
Friends or Foes?
Friends or Foes?
Northern American river otters are very social creatures within their group. They have very playful behaviors . River otters love to play games to strengthen their bonds within the group, improve their hunting skills, and to mark their territories.
When Northern American river otters are in the water, they like to burrow and make dens. These dens have tunnels and entrances to them. The dens can be used as homes for other animals in the water. The main foe of the river otter are humans that hunt them. In the water, river otters do have to compete for food to eat. They must fight for the food in the area from other species that eat the same aquatic species.
Does video of the organism exist?
Does video of the organism exist?
Videos on North American river otters:
Videos on North American river otters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcI1Wynq--w
Web Resources for Audience to Explore
Web Resources for Audience to Explore
Check these informational websites out about Northern American river otters:
Check out the link below for more scientific information about the North American river otter. Link: http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Lontra_canadensis/
Check out the link below for more facts about the North American river otter. Link: http://animalia.bio/north-american-river-otter
Check out the link below to learn more about the North American river otters at the zoo in Montana. Link: https://www.zoomontana.org/animal/north-american-river-otter
Check out the link below to find more information about the North American river otter at the National wildlife refuge in Montana. Link: https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147523705
This website lists where the Norther American river otter is at on the IUCN list. Link: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12302/21936349
Resources
Resources
Columbian Park Zoo Lafayette Park and Recreation. North American River Otter: Lafayette, IN - Official Website. Retrieved June 9, 2020, from https://www.lafayette.in.gov/1711/North-American-River-Otter
Ellis, E. (2003). "Lontra canadensis", Animal Diversity Web. Accessed June 9, 2020 at http://www.biokids.umich.edu/accounts/Lontra_canadensis/
Krauss, J. (2020). An Otter Success. Retrieved June 9, 2020, from https://www.neefusa.org/nature/plants-and-animals/otter-success
Tesky, J. (2015, October 15) Fire Effects Information Systems. Wildlife Species: Lontra Canadensis. Retrieved on June 9, 2020 from https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/mammal/loca/all.html#:~:text=ABBREVIATION%20%3A%20LOCA%20COMMON%20NAMES%20%3A%20northern,)%20%5B25%2C26%5D.
Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute (2018, July 11). North American river otter. Retrieved June 9, 2020, from https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/north-american-river-otter
Williams, A. (2017, August 11). The River Otter's Adaptation to the Environment. Retrieved June 9, 2020, from https://animals.mom.me/river-otters-adaptation-environment-8119.html
Ray, C. (2019, January 21) River Otter Sounds Like A Squeaky Toy On South Carolina. Retrieved June 9,2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVwegxM3xDs
n.d. (2015, November 30) Nat Geo Wild: River Otters on the Run, Wild Yellowstone. Retrieved June 9, 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN1zcU-xHrI
n.d. (2017, March 21) Great Big Story: Back from the Brink: The North American River Otter. Retrieved June 9, 2020 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcI1Wynq--w
Lesson plan
Lesson plan
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