otter

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References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Witness the playful gliding and fishing of river otters in a freshly thawed North American river

river otter and sea otter

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

For Students

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

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otter: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	Lutrinae

Photos and Videos

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

Witness the playful gliding and fishing of river otters in a freshly thawed North American river

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

Lontra clawless otter river otter speckle-throated otter smooth-coated otter North American river otter African clawless otter What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?Central American otter hairy-nosed otter badger weasel polecat

Quiz

Mute swan with cygnet. (birds)

Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

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Young chimpanzee dressed in a shirt and sweater vest, scratching his head thinking. (primates)

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Lion (panthera leo)

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vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

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Portrait of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bayanga, Central African Republic

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cat. orange and white persian cat with long hair, snarl, growl, teeth

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