Northern River Otter - Lontra canadensis
North American river otters once occurred throughout Canada and the United States, except for areas of southern California, New Mexico, and Texas, and the Mohave desert of Nevada and Colorado. In Mexico they are found in the delta areas of the Rio Grande and Colorado river. These otters are now rare or locally extinct throughout much of the eastern, central, and southern United States. North American river otters are found anywhere there is a permanent food supply and easy access to water. They can live in freshwater and coastal marine habitats, including rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and estuaries. River otters can tolerate a variety of environments, including cold and warmer latitudes and high elevations. North American river otters seem to be sensitive to pollution and disappear from areas with polluted waters. North American river otters build dens in the burrows of other mammals, in natural hollows, such as under a log, or in river banks. Dens have underwater entrances and a tunnel leading to a nest chamber that is lined with leaves, grass, moss, bark, and hair. These animals are found in the following types of habitat: temperate ; terrestrial . lakes and ponds; rivers and streams; coastal. Wetlands: marsh , swamp , bog . Mass 5 to 14 kg (11 to lbs) Length 889 to 1300 mm (35 to in) North American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals, with long, streamlined bodies, thick tapered tails, and short legs. They have wide, rounded heads, small ears, and nostrils that can be closed underwater. The vibrissae are long and thick, reflecting their importance in sensory perception. The fur is dark brown to almost black above and a lighter color ventrally. The throat and cheeks are usually a golden brown. The fur is dense and soft, effectively insulating these animals in water. The feet have claws
Size: 5620px × 3733px
Location: Northwest Bay Nanoose Vancouver Island BC British Columbia Cananda
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: agile, america, amphibian, animal, ashore, beast, canada, canadian, conservation, eater, fast, fauna, fischotter, fish, format, horizontal, hunter, kanadischer, mammal, mammals, mustelidae, nature, north, ocean, pacific, predator, prey, rim, river, rocks, sea, single, sleek, swimmer, usa, water, weed, wildlife
