river otters
Post on 23-Feb-2016
88 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
River OttersLutra canadensis
Mustelid family
Aquatic mammals• 10-25 pounds• 30-40 inches long• + 12-15 inch tail• 10-20 years life span• Furred tail• Eyes protrude• 2 fur layers – • underfur 7 guard hairs, subcutaneous fat
Swimming• Underwater locomotion • Body• Feet & tail steering
• 4 minutes, ¼ mile• 7 miles/hour• Dive 50 feet• Best in water of all land mammals• Valves – seal ears & nose• Pulse rate drops• Slows blood & O2 circulation
Swimming
• Excellent hearing• Ok eyes on land• Great eyes under water• Keen sense smell• Whiskers – search for
food
Diet - carnivores• Fish• Minnows• Sunfish• Suckers• Carp• TroutAquatic plants/rootsCrunch thru shells
• Frogs• Turtles• Snails• Mussels• Crayfish• Snakes & eggs• Worms• Insects• muskrats
Teeth - 36• More teeth than any other mustelid in PA• 5 molars each side of upper and lower jaws• Only carnivore in PA w/ all these molars• Molars – perfect for crushing shells
Play• Wrestle• Slide• Sled• Sounds• Chirp, chitter, chuckles, grumbles• Screams– danger
• otters playing
• No hibernation• No food storage• Winter – water warmer
• River freeze• Swim under ice find air
pockets, dens
Dens• Lakes, rivers, streams, islands, marsh high ground• Under tree roots, rock piles, • Abandoned beaver, muskrat, or woodchuck burrows• Beaver lodges• Underwater entrance hole, living space above water,
several air or exit holes
Reproduction• Mature 2 years• Breed Jan – May in water• Delayed implantation (Dec, Jan, Feb)• 2 months gestation• 1 – 5 young• Males polygamous
Babies• Born April or May• Blind & toothless• Blind 5 weeks• Den until 3 – 4 months old• Learn to swim with mom
Pennsylvania
• Protected since 1952• No hunting, no trapping• Restocking since 1980’s• Water Pollution & strip mine runoff- improved conditions• Population size?
• Secretive• Nocturnal• Most in NE PA
• NY & MD – high pops & trapping legal
Keystone species• Clean water• Habitat provides for needs of many other species
• Opportunistic feeders• Habitat loss & water pollution• Avoid humans• Top of food chain• Social• Playful
Important questions ???• How are otters designed for life in the water?• Why is clean water important to otters?• Why is it difficult to know the otter population in PA?• Are otters active in winter or do they hibernate?• Carnivores or herbivores?• Diurnal or nocturnal?• How can river otters guarantee that offspring will be born in the spring?• Describe how an otter swims.• When was restocking of otters introduced in PA?• What family do otters belong to?• How many teeth do they have?
top related