Semiaquatic members of the weasel family, with long slim bodies, webbed feet and very dense fur that keeps them warm and buoyant. There are 14 species, living in fresh water and at sea.
This entry covers a whole group, so the answers describe a typical member. For a specific one, see Sea otter.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?No
Domesticated?No
Awake when?Day & night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inWorldwide
HabitatRivers & lakes, Coast, Wetland
ColoursBrown
SizeMedium
Length0.6–1.8 m
Weight1–45 kg
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives ingroups
Lives for10–15 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Rivers, lakes and coasts across much of the world.
- What it eats
- Mainly fish, plus frogs, birds or shellfish, depending on the species.
Did you know
Its fur is so dense it keeps it warm and buoyant in water.
Otters are playful animals, known for sliding into water.
Often confused with
- Sea otter
A sea otter lives entirely at sea and has a short tail. All other otters have long, muscular tails.
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