Field card
Swamp elite
North American River Otter
Lontra canadensis
- Lives
- Rivers, lakes, marshes and swamps across most of North America
- Size
- About 65 to 105 cm long, tail included; 5 to 14 kg
- Eats
- Fish, crayfish, frogs and other small water animals
- Status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
North American River Otter facts
- It can stay underwater for several minutes, closing its ears and nostrils as it dives.
- Its long, sensitive whiskers help it find prey in dark, muddy water.
- Otters slide down muddy and snowy banks on their bellies, to get around and, it seems, for fun.
Myth River otters are just sea otters in rivers.
Fact They're cousins: river otters swim belly-down in fresh water, while sea otters float on their backs in the ocean.
In Word Biome
The North American River Otter is the elite of the Swamp trail, tougher than the creatures before it. Watch for it in costume as the Captain Otter. Tap it in the game to open this field card.
EliteCostume: Captain Otter
Sources
Checked against: IUCN Red List, Smithsonian's National Zoo, National Wildlife Federation.