Ten fun facts about Otters
Fact 1
Male otters are generally known as meowters. The females are called queens and the offspring are referred to as pups.
Fact 2
Except for the sea otter, the majority of otters spend time mainly on land. They generally reside in places where the water is warm and the land is sandy.
Fact 3
Otters are believed to be the most intelligent creatures in the world
Fact 4
Otters are able to use tools just like monkeys, beavers and apes do. They use rocks to crack shells to eat the flesh. They eat marine fish, invertebrates such as abalone, crabs, urchins and sea stars.
Fact 5
The average life span for an otter is 12 years in the wild though they can live for double that amount of time in captivity.
Fact 6
Otters are the smallest of the marine mammals in the world.
Fact 7
They use their tails that are 12” long to steer through water and also as protection. The tail makes up 40% of the body.
Fact 8
The female otters give birth to two to four pups at a time.
Fact 9
They have the thickest fur among all animals which is used to insulate their bodies as they do not have blubber that is normally seen on other marine mammals.
Fact 10
An otter can dive up to 250 feet for food and can remain under water for up to 4 minutes.
More interesting reads about...
Sea Lions
Are marine fin-footed mammals in the family Otariidae and have the ability to walk on all fours.
Seals
Are warm-blooded marine mammals with round eyes and long whiskers around the mouth.
Penguins
Are among the most popular exhibits in marine parks, zoos and aquariums across the world
Dolphins
Are warm blooded intelligent mammals that have been known to help humans in many circumstances and loved by them.
Elephants
Are the largest living land animals that are now found in the world
Walruses
Are the most garrulous pinnipeds or marine mammals with broad heads, flippers, short muzzle, small eyes, tusks and whiskers.
Eels
Are snake-like fish from the order Anguilliformes that occupy both fresh water as well as saltwater habitats.
Camels
Are called the desert ships and they can swim when they encounter water and also carry 200 – 300 kg of baggage on their backs.
Whales
Whales are very large marine mammals, that live in the oceans.
MORE IN ANIMALS
