They will spend several hours nightly foraging in water. Reptiles : Similarities and Differences, https://www.bioexplorer.net/what-do-otters-eat.html/, Plasma Membrane Functions, Composition, & Structures. They also use their agile front paws to find and grasp their prey. Sea otters have been found to play a pivotal role in the habitat and marine life that inhabit a kelp forest. Otters weigh 35-90 pounds (males weigh more than females). Sea otters eat a wide range of marine animals, including mussels, clams, urchins, abalone, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species, equaling approximately 25 percent of their weight in food each day, according to Defenders of Wildlife. Thus, the sea otter is one of the very few mammals to make an effective use of tools (t… Barrientos et al., 2003 ). Coastal otters in Shetland eat bottom-living species such as eelpout, rockling and butterfish. Sea otters eat up to 35 percent of their body weight each day to maintain the energy they need to stay warm in the chilly waters off the California coast. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. In addition, the northern sea otter eats … Copyright © 1999-2020 BioExplorer.Net. River otters eat mostly frogs, crabs, crayfish, fish and mollusks. This is approximately 10 kg of marine life. Why do orcas eat sea otters? Although sea otters used to be found in more southern parts of North America, they were almost completely wiped out, so there isn’t much there anymore. The diet of otters reflects the environment they live in. Our findings are probably related to the generalized increase that otter populations have experienced in Spain ( López-Martín and Jiménez Pérez, 2008 ) and their high dispersal abilities (i.e. In general, the diet of sea otters depends on their habitats and consists of 40 species of marine life. This means that the majority of their diet is made up of fish. Freshwater species are also known to eat frogs. How do sea otters hunt? By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Neritic Zone: Definition, Animal Life, and Characteristics, 5 Environmental Consequences of Oil Spills, Echinoderms: Starfish, Sand Dollars, and Sea Urchins, M.S., Resource Administration and Management, University of New Hampshire, B.S., Natural Resources, Cornell University. The river otter food chain also consists of mussels, bivalves, snails, cr… The sea urchins … Sea otters can be found close to certain seas near Alaska, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and the country of Russia. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. They aren’t picky eaters though as they will consume just about anything they can find to survive on. Some other common items that … A Sea Otter's Diet. They are carnivorous, and most species eat a variety of fish, amphibians, shellfish, crabs, and other aquatic creatures. Many otters eat tough food, particularly sea otters that inhabit the shallow coastal waters of the northern Pacific. Otter is a very adventurous hunter and sometimes catches fish more than he can eat. This allows other marine, and even terrestrial animals, to have abundant amounts of prey. Once this otter identifies its potential victim, it captures it using its front feet and then brings it to the surface. These dietary preferences may also make certain otters susceptible to disease. Most often he preys on large fish. They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits.They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. Fish, crustaceans, small anacondas, and caimans. The Eurasian otters have mastered the skill of holding their breath for a few seconds while underwater. Discover facts about Eurasian otters and their presence in urban areas including Sheffield, Birmingham and London. Pet otters eat a lot To stay warm in the water for so long, otters have incredibly thick fur, and very fast metabolisms, which means they need to eat … Therefore, sea otters need to eat daily and eat 20 to 25% of food from their own weight. With the ability to smell concentrations of fish and their high metabolisms, otters spend most of their time hunting for their next meal. Sea otters have loose skin and baggy "pockets" underneath their forelimbs. They have a unique foraging habit because they use rocks to kill their prey. In the animal kingdom, amphibians and reptiles are the most frequently interchanged; Here are the similarities & difference between amphibians and reptiles. In a kelp forest, sea urchins can graze on the kelp and eat their holdfasts, resulting in deforesting the kelp from an area. These mammals have whiskers, which they use to spot their prey by detecting vibrations in the water. Because the otter food source is easier to excavate from rocky-bottom habitats, as opposed to soft-bottom habitats, more otters tend to live in waters with rocky bottoms with access to shallow-burrowing prey. Individual otters in an area seem to have different prey preferences. The absence of otters in their ecosystems would jeopardize the integrity of the watershed food webs and food chain. In fact, sea otters eating is what they're best known for—besides being extremely cute. FactsKing.com / Animal Facts / 8 Top Predators of Sea Otters that Eat Sea Otter Sea otters are sea mammals native to the eastern and northern parts of the North Pacific Ocean. About 13 otter species have been described. In the wild, most species of otter feed on fish and crustaceans, with river otters feeding on prey like freshwater fish, mussels, crabs, crayfish and frogs, and saltwater otters eating marine prey such as shellfish, sea urchins and shrimp. The food sea otters eat can impact the entire ecosystem in which they live. The Eurasian otters use their sensitive whiskers in murky waters to detect their prey. This simply makes it safer for them to get food and give birth (sea otters are the only type of otter that deliver their babies in the water). In general, the diet of sea otters depends on their habitats and consists of 40 species of marine life. The main diet of the otter consists of different types of fish: trout, roach, carp, perch, carp, pike, goby, minnow. Otters are carnivores, which means they eat meat. River otters eat a variety of aquatic wildlife, such as fish, crayfish, crabs, frogs, birds’ eggs, birds and reptiles such as turtles. Food preferences vary among individuals. Anything that is small and has a shell is fair game. Within these seas, they are usually found in the vicinity of the shore (which is typically rocky). They are great swimmers, and on land, they can run at speeds of 15 miles an hour. This mammal has also been known to dine on ducks. *. Interestingly, these great hunters can also dive into the water to find and ambush their prey. Besides, they also prefer to eat crabs, large barnacles, mussels, snails, tubeworms, clams, squid, octopuses, chitons, scallops, sea cucumbers, sea stars and abalone. During the spring months amphibians form a large part of their diet. Facts about otters : Wow in the World Why are Mindy and Guy Raz preparing to eat 15 pounds of food? This species is also considered to be the largest member of the Mustelid family, and this is because these mammals can grow to a length of 6 feet. Some other common items that they will eat include invertebrates, birds, and small sized animals. What do Otters Eat? As prey, otters provide a great source of nutrients to animals that hunt them for food. The primary source of food for the Otter is fish. Jennifer Kennedy, M.S., is an environmental educator specializing in marine life. Many people do not consider these cute creatures to be pests, but if you live near a water source that has a family of otters in it, you may feel differently. Otters will mainly feed on fish (40-90% of their diet)and will take a variety of species depending on the time of year, species such as carp, stickleback and eels. Otters are carnivorous. The most common fish consumed are perch, suckers, and catfish. River otters are apex predators in their food web. This species has also been spotted in other parts of Europe, China, Eastern Russia, South East, and South Asia, as well as North Africa. Other event in Long Beach, CA by Aquarium of the Pacific on Tuesday, March 31 2020 with 205 people interested and 92 people going. All in all, the sea otter preys on at least 100 different marine species. How often otters eat varies as long as they meet their average daily energy need. Otters (both sea and river otters) play a notable role in the animal food chain. Aty eats salmon reluctantly, but he refuse to eat tuna. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What do otters eat? Adults weigh up to 99 pounds and are the weasel family’s heaviest animals, but strangely the smallest of all marine mammals. Once they locate their prey, the giant river otters proceed to capture and consume them. They often eat sea urchins, mollusks, crabs, some kinds of fish, mussels, chitons, scallops, sea ears and stars. They can store extra food, and rocks used as tools, in these pockets. A minimal number of river otter predators exist in nature. Otters’ diets vary according to what season it is, where their habitat is situated, and even according to species. Deprived of their normal food, killer whales turned to the sea otter . Sea otters eat about 20-30% of their body weight each day. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. Sea bream, horse mackerel, sardines, flounder, scallops, greater amberjack, and red bream were ready to eat sashimi. There are deep-diving otters that eat benthic organisms such as urchins, crabs, and abalone, medium-diving otters that forage for clams and worms and others that feed at the surface on organisms such as snails. Where Do Otters Fit in the Animal Food Chain? The giant river otters have also been noted to feed on small anacondas and caimans. River otters also prefer slower-moving fish to game fish. Its. This mammal is mainly aquatic and will mostly be found residing next to perennial or seasonal rivers. As suggested by its name, the giant river otter is the largest otter species, and it is often referred to as the river wolf. Also, Giant river otters will occasionally attack a caiman wandering into their territory. Common Rare Untameable Cave The Otter is one of the Creatures in ARK: Survival Evolved. From urchin to … It should be noted that the bodies of water than sea otters live near are generally less than 40 meters deep. The activity of otters varies depending on different factors. Sea otters have a high metabolic rate (that is, they use a high amount of energy) that is 2-3 times that of other mammals their size. As suggested by its name, the African clawless otter is found in abundance in Africa. The giant river otters have also been noted to feed on small anacondas and caimans. Sea otters obtain their food by diving. Amphibians Vs. This suggests that otters are able to temporally exploit marginal areas and feeding on other locally abundant prey (Lizana and Pérez Mellado, 1990, Weber, 2008). Congo clawless otters probably feed on fairly soft prey items such as small land vertebrates, frogs, and eggs. This species is well adapted to thrive in aquatic environments. They aren’t vegetarians—they typically eat the things What Do Otters Eat? The giant river otters are excellent predators. From urchin to crab, worm and clam, oct... Sea otters eat A LOT of food. They nest on land, tending to build underground tunnels to move between the two. Otter Diet: Otters live near water because it provides them with everything they need—including food. When out looking for otters, please follow to this safety advice: Try to work in pairs Only enter the water if it’s safe to do so Avoid rivers in full flood or fast-flowing sections Beware of loose banks and slip hazards Do not drink the water The African clawless otter is carnivorous. Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. Hunting for the Eurasian otter is a specialized task that calls for the use of their highly sensitive whiskers. All otters are expert hunters that eat fish, crustaceans, and other critters. 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