North American river otter
At the Detroit Zoo
The Edward Mardigian Sr. River Otter Habitat is home to females Whisker and Stormy and male Lucius. Their habitat has a 5,900-gallon pool with waterfalls and waterslides and is designed for small children to view the otters at eye-level as they show off their aquatic skills.
Description
The river otter’s fur color ranges from white to grey, brown and black. It has a long streamlined body, a thick tail that can be up to 21 inches long and short legs. The otter’s strong tail and webbed feet help propel it through the water, which makes it a great swimmer.
Scientific name: Lontra canadensis
Continent: North America
Habitat: Estuaries, ponds, lakes, rivers, wetlands and along marine coasts
Size: 2-2.5 feet long (not including the tail); the tail can be 1-1.5 feet long
Weight: 10-30 pounds
Diet: The North American river otter is a carnivore and eats fish, turtles, crabs, mollusks, birds, oysters, shellfish, crayfish, frogs, rodents and insects.
Reproduction: Gestation 60 days; litter of two to four pups
Lifespan: 12 years
Conservation Status: Least Concern
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