Watching Otters chase their prey is fun because they are so very active. Some other common items that they will eat … Sea otters in the United States received additional protections with the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s. In addition, the same volume of different foods can have varying caloric and nutritional contents, showing that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. This is one of the reasons why Otters in captivity tend to live longer. Otters may also occasionally prey on birds, rabbits, and rodents. Age and size are the primary factors that affect how much to feed a kitten. Sea otters eat about 25% to 30% of their weight. A large male may consume as much as 11 kg (25 lb.) Go behind-the-scenes to see how our trainers care for and interact with these amazing animals, and get up close with some finned, flippered, or feathered friends. A sea otter may remove an abalone by repeatedly hitting it with a rock. Males weigh up to 90 lbs. 34 pounds is equal to somewhere around 74 of the average six-inch subs from Subway. They can spend up to five hours each day finding the food that they need in order to survive. They may find that there are more opportunities to find food during the day than at night or vice versa. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of … Food can also be softer for them so that they don’t wear down their teeth like they do in the wild. Seriously. Our overarching zoological mission is to foster conservation awareness and to impart action on our park guests to preserve wild animals and wild places. River otters can be found throughout much of the United States, Canada and Mexico around the Rio Grande and Colorado River deltas. How much a cat needs to eat depends on a variety of factors, including size, age, metabolic rate, the amount it exercises, and even environmental temperatures. 4. Sea otters eat bottom-dwelling nearshore animals, which they often forage for in kelp forests. They have very fast reflexes so they tend to be accurate with catching their prey. "You can imagine a 60-pound … In the same study they established the mean quality of food consumed was approximately 853g/day, or consumed about 9% of their body weight each day and otter pups consume about 15% of their body weight. Learn more about the Seasonal Camp Counselor program at SeaWorld. Their body shape aids in helping them make sudden turns to catch fish and other prey. So, a 50-pound otter would need to … A full grown male sea otter weighs about 40 kilograms. The primary source of food for the Otter is fish. © 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A 3-4 week clerkship for veterinary students wanting to augment their knowledge and experience in non-domestic animal medicine. Others starve to death due to their teeth being broken or worn down. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. Their fur is thick a… Some of them will even get parasites into their bodies from the prey that they consume. The largest otter is the giant otter. This is one of the main senses that they rely upon to find their prey in the water and on land. Food preferences vary among individuals. This is just one example of how incredibly intelligent they are. Many of these animals end up dying due to liver problems, kidney failure, and digestion problems. This small (3–6 kg [6.6–13.2 pounds]) otter occurs on the Pacific coast from Peru through Chile and Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter.African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. If they need to break open shells or they have large prey then they will drag it to land to feed on it. River otters eat 15% to 20% of their total body weight each day. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. = about 3,700 calories per day. A sea otter's diet consists mainly of slow-moving fishes and marine invertebrates including crabs, sea urchins, abalones, clams, mussels, and snails. How much a cat needs to eat depends on a variety of factors, including size, age, metabolic rate, the amount it exercises, and even environmental temperatures. Some otters also climb trees and eat branches. The Oregon Zoo's southern sea otters live in the Steller Cove exhibit. Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. Otters have 36 to 38 sharp teeth. At SeaWorld parks, adult killer whales eat approximately 1% to 3.5% of their body weight in food per day. They also use their vision and their sense of touch to find food sources. Crazy about roller coasters? They eat fish in the winter when the fish are most vulnerable especially they target hand-fed catfish; they eat two to three pounds of fish per day. Hefty appetites aren't unique to giant otters: All otters eat 20 percent to 33 percent of their body weight each day. Otters are very active hunters and will hunt for about 3-5 hours per day, which increases to about 8 hours when nursing. The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter.African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. Sea otters dive to the ocean floor to retrieve food. If opportunity presents itself, an otter will eat a rabbit, bird, or rodent that ventures near the water. Find quick information and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from A to Z. If an otter is legal in your state, the average costs to adopt one usually hover around $3,500 to $5,000. Did you just call me a sea otter? Cape clawless and Asian small-clawed otters feed mainly on crabs and other crustaceans, molluscs, and frogs. Two or more otter species occupying the same geographical area usually have different food habits. Though it is the largest, it isn’t the heaviest. River otters possess long, muscular bodies suited to their life on both land and in water. Cape clawless otters have been observed using rocks and other hard objects to break open mussel shells. al (1992). Shellfish-eating clawless otters catch prey with their paws. Their diets are closely monitored. Taken with tigers? Sea otters have to eat at least 25% oftheir body weight each day. Otters have some interesting relatives. There are 13 species of otters, in seven genera, according to Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). 5. If you weigh 140 pounds, that’d be like you eating around 34 pounds of food every day. They can also get health care for problems with their kidneys and liver. Before considering adoption, always refer to the local laws to ensure you can legally house one. Most adult dogs should eat two meals a day, and puppies often require three or more feedings, so you’ll need to divide the amount in the table by the number of meals you are offering. Sea otters must eat at least 25% of their body weight each day in order to maintain a high metabolic rate, which keeps their internal body temperature at 100ºF. Some species will vary in what they do depending on where they live. River otters are smaller than their cousins, the sea otters. Adult North American river otters are capable of consuming 1 to 1.5 kilograms (2.2 to 3.3 lb) of fish per day. In Thailand, the ranges of at least three otter species overlap. An otter's high metabolic rate - important for generating body heat - requires a substantial amount food. After ruling out other possibilities, Hughes wondered if the creatures’ voracious appetite was somehow changing the ecosystem, to seagrass’s benefit. Take a closer look at these encyclopedia books including information about animal habitats, behavior, and scientific classification. River otters and giant otters hunt by using their vibrissae to detect movements of prey in the water. Otters seem to have life figured out. They come in many sizes. Sea otters eat about 25% to 30% of their weight. The fact that Otters do need to consume so much food each day though is a prime reason why they do have health problems with their stomachs and their vital organs. Plan on budgeting around $50 to $70 per month as they will eat about 20 percent of their body weight daily. 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