North American River Otters. This species does not hibernate and remains active under frozen water by breathing through breaks in the ice. By the early 1900s, river otters had declined throughout large portions of their historic range in North America. Like other otter species, the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) has a long, sinuous, streamlined body, highly modified for aquatic life.The limbs are short and powerful, the clawed paws are fully-webbed, and the flattish head terminates in a broad muzzle equipped with numerous sensitive whickers used for detecting prey underwater. Fun Facts. Threats: Destruction of habitat. They grow to one meter (3 to 4 ft) in length and weigh from five to 15 kilograms (10 to 30 lb). As top predators, they consume many other animals, from insects and crayfish to rodents and birds. Boomer came to CMA to be a social partner for Walle, a rescued and non-releasable otter, who was residing by himself at that time. This species reportedly has 28 common names in North America. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). All otters are declining due to habitat loss. Photograph by Michael Quinton / Minden Pictures This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page. By the 1950s its numbers were greatly reduced due to trapping and pollution, but after a long campaign to clean the waterways, trapping management and reintroductions in states in which it no longer occurred, this species now thrives throughout the USA and Canada. The body of the river otter measures between 65 cm to 105 cm (25 to 41 inches) in length and the tail measures 32 to 45 cm (12 to 17 inches) in length. Yes. PIERRE, S.D. River Otter (Lutra canadensis) Description The otter is the largest member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) found in South Carolina. Zoo New England participates in the North American river otter Species Survival Plan. The North American River Otter is very streamlined, having a muscular body with short legs, webbed toes and a long muscular tail. The playful river otter, common in lakes and streams throughout the United States and Canada, enjoys its new freedom. The American Beaver (Castor canadensis) is one example of a keystone species in North America. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. The North American river otter is a member of the mustelid or weasel family that can be easily identified by a stout body, short legs, noticeably tapered tail and dense, short, glossy fur. This dataset represents a species known range extent for North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) within the conterminous United States (CONUS) based on 2001 ground conditions. During the winter the otter could only fish through small ice holes. Legal protection: No formal protection. Species: Neotropical, North American River Otter and Sea Otter. Other nonscientific names include Nearctic River Otter, Northern River Otter, Canadian Otter, Land Otter, and Fish Otter. Summary 6 The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or the common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts.An adult river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 31 lb). The otter has a long cylindrical body with a powerful tail, making it ideal for life in the water. 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