Northern River Otter
Lontra canadensis
Classification
Domain Eukarya: Single cell or multicellular
Kingdom Animalia: The Animalia Kingdom have tissues that do specific functions. All animals are multicellular . Some animals reproduce sexually or are diploid
Phylum Chordata: Chordates are organisms that possess a notochord. A notechord is a rod that extends mostly through the body. Chordata have bilateral symmetry. The Chordata have a digestive system and bony and an exoskeleton.
Sub-phylum Vertebrata: Vertebrata has a heart with 2-4 chambers. The main body has a head, trunk, two appendages, and a tail. Vertebrates share a chain of bony elements.
Class Mammalia: Mammalia will swim, run, bound, fly, glide, burrow, or climb for the types of moving in their environment.Mammals can have a group of tens, hundreds, thousands or more individuals.Mammals that live colder climates have to be warm and hotter dry climates have to be colder. During growing up they grow hair.The mammalian hair has protein called Keratin and has jobs for four function.The hair can also have color and patterns so it won't be seen by predators or prey.They are classified by their different teeth.
Order Carnivora: Carnivora have enlarged forth upper premolar and first lower molar for cutting meat and tendon. These are also called carnassial pair. Carnivoria are intelligent so they have a large brain.They have simple stomachs.Their forelimbs and hind limbs are paddles. They den in tree hollows, burrows, or caves.Group members can be strong to show affection for each other.
Family Mustelidae: Family Mustelidae have long bodies with short legs and slender bodies. Males are 25% bigger than Females.It has five digits and the ear are as short as the legs.The Mustelidae family is diurnal or nocturnal.With their long and narrow bodies they are quick and agile.Some are excellent climbers or excellent swimmers.
Genus Lontra: The lontra is a American River Otter.
Species: Lontra canadensis
Eating
Range
Home
General Decription
Diet/how:Water animals like amphibians, fish, turtles, crayfish, insects, crabs, and other invertebrates is what they eat. Also Birds, their eggs, and small terrestrial mammals is some times eaten. Aquatic plants is also eat occasionally.River Otters capture the prey with the mouth and it is slow. They eat it very fast in the water so other animals won't eat it.
Height: 3' to 4'
Weight: 6 lbs to 30 lbs
length: 35.00 to 51.18 in.
Lifespan: 21 and older in captivity, but if they live in the wild they live to about 8 to 9 years.
Predators: Their predators are Bobcats, Coyotes, Birds, Alligators, and other large animals. Their predators are Bobcats, Coyotes, Birds, Alligators, and other large animals.
Color:The River Otter fur is brown black over the lighter color. Throat and the cheeks are golden brown.
Quick Fact: For at least eight minutes that how long they can hold their breath.
Physical Adaptations
Behavioral Adaptations
Reference
Burton, M., & Burton, R. (2002). River Otter. In International wildlife encyclopedia (3rd ed., Vol. 16, pp. 2179-2181). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.
Dewey, Ellis, T. E. -.-,. (2003, May 22). Lontra canadensis northern river otter. Retrieved March 12, 2015, from Animal Diversity Web website: http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lontra_canadensis/
Ellis, E. 2003. "Lontra canadensis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 12, 2015 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Lontra_canadensis/
F, T. (2003). River Otter. Retrieved from Blue Planet Biomes Animal Index website: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/river_otter.htm
North American River Otter. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from National Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/sajh/learn/nature/north-american-river-otter.htm
North American River Otter. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Geographic website: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-river-otter/?source=A-to-Z
North American River Otter. (2011, February 25). Retrieved from Cincinnati Zoo website: http://cincinnatizoo.org/?s=American+River+Otters
North American River Otter Lutra canadensis. (2014, June 5). Retrieved from Brookfield Zoo website: http://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Zoo-Animals/The-Swamp/North-American-River-Otter
Tomle, P. (2003, June 1). Looking for the Lost River Otters of the Southwest. Retrieved from National Wildlife website: http://www.nwf.org/news-and-magazines/national-wildlife/animals/archives/2003/looking-for-the-lost-river-otters-of-the-southwest.aspx