The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. I am going to offer some of the most interesting and rarely known river otter facts and that includes river otter habitat, diet, reproduction, and behavior. The habitats that freshwater ecosystems provide consist of lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, streams, and springs. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Learn more about floods with these resources. Each of these uses can affect the health of a river and its surrounding ecosystems. Can River Otter Fight Back Against Coyote?｜National Geographic Floods are events where water overflows onto land that is typically dry. And when he's tired, Charlie crawls into his hammock and lounges tummy-up. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. Privacy Notice |  But it's not frozen yet, so they'll feed here while they can. In the winter, otters have found the easiest and perhaps most fun way to get around is by sliding. She or he will best know the preferred format. A flowing body of water that is smaller than a river is called a stream, creek, or brook. It is also home to many diverse fish, plant, and crustacean species. People also call it North American river otter. The North American river otter occurs in much of Canada and the United States, except for portions of the Southwest, and in Mexico in the Rio Grande and Colorado River delta areas. In addition to property damage, floods, on average, kill more people than tornadoes, hurricanes, or lightning strikes in the United States each year. National Geographic Headquarters To crack open hard-shelled prey, the otters smash them on stone anvils. Some rivers flow year-round, while others flow only during certain seasons or when there has been a lot of rain. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. Otters will place the rock on their chests, and repeatedly smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal the tasty meal inside. Their home on the Yellowstone River is freezing up. 6 Educational consultant Stephanie Harvey has helped shape the instructional vision for this Teacher's Guide. Fast-flowing rivers carry pebbles, sand, and silt. Apr 10, 2014 - Get to know these charismatic members of the weasel family. But the fun is coming to an end for this mother and her nine month old pup. Fascinated by these otters? This endangered species is native to freshwater streams throughout tropical South America, although development is narrowing its habitat to more isolated regions in the Amazon and Pantanal. When they are four to five years old, they develop their normal white heads and tails. They … Photo by Andrea Westmoreland. And they’re super-powerful forces of nature, too – carving out deep valleys and gorges, and shaping the land as they flow to the ocean! Earth Science, Climatology, Geology, Geography. Otters prefer water bordered by … If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. The other end of a river is called its mouth, where water empties into a larger body of water, such as a lake or ocean. To crack open hard-shelled prey, the otters smash them on stone anvils. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. In Egypt, for example, the Nile River and its adjacent delta helped give rise to the Egyptian empire that built the pyramids. Humans use rivers for irrigation in agriculture, for drinking water, for transportation, to produce electricity through hydroelectric dams, and for leisure activities like swimming and boating. From each river’s source, the water meanders through the landscape meeting up with other streams and shaping civilization as we know it. Teach your students about the Earth’s rivers and streams with the resources in this collection. Terms of Service |  But he must learn to fend for himself. 6 TEACHER'S GUIDE Scout and Voyager Vol. In the wild, they can live to be 35 years old or more. Females retreat to their underground dens and deliver litters of one to six young. Floods are among the most expensive and frequent natural disasters in the United States, and as the impacts of climate change are more acutely felt, floods are expected to worsen. About National Geographic Society The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically supporting three to eight members. Monitoring the health of rivers, lakes, and streams is important work that is conducted by scientists called limnologists. Photo Ark Home Female Neotropical River Otter | National Geographic Society Skip to content The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Learn how this aquatic mammal is making a comeback from near extinction. 1145 17th Street NW raised edges of land on the side of a river. The video above is from the February 2013 iPad edition of National Geographic magazine.. River otters are playful animals. Otters place a rock on their chests and smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal the tasty meat inside. 19 No. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. River otters are in their elements. Today, farmers in the flood plain of California’s Central Valley produce approximately one-third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed in the United States. North American River Otter The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. Their small heads widen to long necks and shoulders, and they have flattened, well-muscled tails. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). Photo of otters poking their heads out of a river. Sustainability Policy |  For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. However, rivers still carry and distribute important salts and nutrients to support plant and animal life. Did you know some dolphins live in rivers? If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. The Ganges (Ganga) River is a sacred body of water to Hindus that begins high in the Himalaya Mountains and empties out into the Bay of Bengal. Sea otters can eat up to 75 mussels per hour. As the river begins to slow down—as in a wetland, at the outside of a bend, or where the river widens, such as at the mouth—these sediments sink and build up to form deltas. Otters thrive on land and in the water. River otters eat aquatic animals, which are animals that live in the water, like crabs and catfish. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Whether it’s a lake, river, swamp or estuary, otters like a mix of land and water. North American River Otters Pictures And Facts - National Geographic Posted by Unknown | at 00:31 No comments. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. River otters are aquatic mammals. Freshwater is a precious resource on the Earth's surface. Terms of Service |  River otters are in their element in Yellowstone’s early winter. Rivers can also form what is called an estuary, where salty seawater mixes with fresh water near the river mouth to form “ brackish water.” These deltas and floodplains are highly fertile agricultural zones that offer tremendous value to the surrounding people. Of that, only about 1.2 percent can be used as drinking water; the rest is locked up in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost, or buried deep in the ground. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Photograph by Nicole Duplaix. Use these classroom resources to help students explore and learn about these places. 19 No. Prior to settlement of North America by Europeans, otters were widespread among aquatic habitats throughout most of the continent (Hall 1981). The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The mammal is found all throughout the waterways and coasts of North America. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. There are 13 species in total, ranging from the small-clawed otter to the giant otter. National Geographic Young Explorer, Scout/Voyager Page 1 Vol. They generally live along rivers, as their name implies, but they're also found near streams and lakes. This water is the lifeline of ecosystems around the world. Here's fair warning: cute doesn't necessarily mean cuddly. Code of Ethics. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. 1145 17th Street NW community and interactions of living and nonliving things in an area. The surrounding river basin has a population of more than four hundred million people. But did you know these mammals are also top predators? © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society, Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. power generated by moving water converted to electricity. mouth of a river where the river's current meets the sea's tide. Rivers can also form what is called an estuary, where salty seawater mixes with fresh water near the river mouth to form “brackish water.”  The Hudson River in New York, U.S., is an example of an estuary where brackish water extends more than 241 kilometers (150 miles) upstream. You cannot download interactives. She or he will best know the preferred format. Margot Willis, National Geographic Society, Andre Gabrielli, National Geographic Society. Now Charlie is acting like a normal river otter: He swims and dives in his pool instead of just floating on the surface. Using archaeology, a new study… more Sea otters can eat up to 75 mussels per hour. For this reason, some of the most biodiverse habitats on our planet can be found around rivers. "He's more like a real otter," says trainer Abbie Brewer. By land and by sea. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. North American river otters, also called Canadian otters, have long, muscular, streamlined bodies with short legs and fully webbed feet bearing non-retractable claws. Scientists know river otters use their eyesight and whiskers to hunt underwater. Most of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams. Along the way, rivers may pass through wetlands where plants slow down the water and filter out pollutants. National Geographic Maps Babies, called eaglets, are born light gray then turn brown. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. This source is called a headwater. This can occur when there is a large amount of rain, rapid snow or ice melt, a blast of water onto a coastline during a storm, or the failure of manmade infrastructures, such as dams or levees. The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. Privacy Notice |  solid material transported and deposited by water, ice, and wind. Soon, she'll send him on his way. Learn all about them with our fascinating facts about rivers! Like most other otter species, giant otters come ashore to give birth. Its diet includes birds, small rodents, frogs, crabs, and fish. All rights reserved. Sea otters are known for their remarkable ability to use rocks to smash open shellfish to fill their stomachs. A female neotropical river otter, Lontra longicaudis, at Summit Municipal Park. The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. A river is a large body of fresh, flowing water. Giant river otters check out the scenery in Kapoeri Creek, Suriname. Her goal is to ensure you have the tools you need to enhance student understanding and engagement with nonfiction text. After a few bumps, they can slide up to 22 feet on the ice. Bald eagles can soar over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) high, and their great eyesight lets them see fish up to a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. Most are small, with short ears and noses, elongated bodies, long tails, and soft, dense fur. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. Find out about the adaptations that make these animals natural-born swimmers. They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries—in cold, warm, or even high-elevation areas—as long as the habitat provides adequate food. The Colorado river flowing through the Grand Canyon. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. In warmer times, you may also see otters sliding down a riverbank. Rivers that overflow their banks also deposit sediment in the surrounding flood plain. all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area. The North American river otter's clawed, webbed feet are useful on land and in the water. A river is a large, natural stream of flowing water. Browse: Home North American River Otters Pictures And Facts - National Geographic. Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society It's easier just to steal mums. National Geographic Headquarters Sea Otters Facts and Photos. The largest salamander in North America is elusive and facing threats. Sustainability Policy |  Rivers are found on every continent and on nearly every kind of land. Credits. While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves. Code of Ethics. Only about three percent of Earth’s water is freshwater. Collectively, scientists estimate that all the rivers in the world carry about 3.6 billion metric tons (four billion tons) of salt from land to the ocean each year. The majority of otters spend most of their time on land. All rivers have a starting point where water begins its flow. Also called hydroelectric energy or hydroelectric power. © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. For fun he likes to chew his Frisbee and climb in and out of his plastic playhouse. The water that flows in rivers is fresh, meaning that it contains less than one percent salt. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Common otter is the other name for this animal. Sep 30, 2011 - Learn the purpose of the playful otter’s riverside games. Their dense, short under-fur is overlain by darker, coarse guard hairs that help repel water. A river is a ribbon-like body of water that flows downhill from the force of gravity. The pup is still learning to fish. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. You cannot download interactives. Unregulated trapping and loss or degradation of aquatic habitats through filling of wetlands and development of coal, oil, gas, tanning, timber, and other industries resulted in extirpations or declines in otter populations in many areas (Toweill and Tabor 1982, Melquist and Dronkert 1987). Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. The headwater can come from rainfall or snowmelt in mountains, but it can also bubble up from groundwater or form at the edge of a lake or large pond. All rights reserved. "But he still likes to suck his tail and toes like a baby!" The erosional power of rivers can form geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon. Photograph by Bates Littlehales, National Geographic. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in … North American River Otters Facts and Photos. A river can be wide and deep, or shallow enough for a person to wade across. These otters have brown-to-gray fur, and their undersides are a lighter, silvery shade. salty water, usually a mixture of seawater and freshwater. Collectively, scientists estimate that all the rivers in the world carry about 3.6 billion metric tons (four billion tons) of salt from land to the ocean each year. Nilsson (1980) reviewed the status of otters … The largest rivers can be thousands of miles long. Rivers only hold a small amount of the Earth’s water, but they have always been vital to human life, carrying freshwater to people and animals all over the world. Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. Photograph by Bates Littlehales, National Geographic. watering land, usually for agriculture, by artificial means. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Street NW raised edges of land and in the water, like crabs and.... Service | river otters mostly live off fish, river otter facts national geographic and crabs, crustacean... Rivers may pass through wetlands where plants slow down the water on this page, please read our of. More like a baby!, by artificial means for agriculture, by means. Information and to obtain a license North America by Europeans, otters were widespread among aquatic habitats throughout most the! Tails, and springs, ranging from the force of gravity a ribbon-like body of water flows... 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