zpostcode
What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?
Apr 4, 2025 8:03 PM

  While river otters and sea otters might appear similar at first glance, the two exhibit many striking differences beyond their aquatic habitats. Although the term sea otter refers to only one species—Enhydra lutris—river otter applies to multiple species in the genus Lontra, which includes the well-known North American river otter (L. canadensis), as well as otters of the genera Aonyx, Hydrictis, Lutra, Lutrogale, and Pteronura. Sea otters and the various river otters are all members of the weasel family, Mustelidae.

  Let’s dive in and explore some of the physical and behavioral differences that distinguish sea otters from the river otters of the genus Lontra.

  Physical differences

  

What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?1

  river otterNorth American river otter (Lontra canadensis).(more)One major difference between sea otters and river otters is their size. Although they are the smallest of all marine mammals, sea otters are far heftier than their riverine counterparts; males can reach about 41 kg (90 pounds) and females 27 kg (60 pounds). River otters weigh about 4.5–15 kg (10–33 pounds), depending on the species, and females are smaller than the males.

  Beyond their weight, sea otters also have longer bodies than river otters, though their flat tails are shorter. River otters boast a sleeker build than sea otters, and their long pointed tails can make up about a third of their body length. River otters use their long pointed tails and all four paws to swim, whereas sea otters rely mostly on their short flat tails and two back paws to navigate in water.

  

What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?2

  sea otterSea otter (Enhydra lutris).(more)Fur thickness is another key physiological difference between river and sea otters. Sea otters have a uniquely thick pelt, with about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeter (about 170,000 to 1,000,000 per square inch)—the densest coat of any living mammal species. This thick layer of fur likely evolved in order to help sea otters conserve body heat, supplying the insulation that protective blubber provides in other marine mammals. Sea otters were nearly hunted to extinction for their incredible pelts in the 18th and 19th centuries and remain an endangered species.

  Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Subscribe Now Behavioral differences A number of behavioral elements also distinguish river and sea otters. Exclusively a marine species, sea otters consume food found in their aquatic habitats, such as sea urchins, crabs, and shellfish. They characteristically float on their backs and utilize rocks as tools to crack their hard-shelled prey. To sleep, they float on their backs, sometimes holding onto each other to form “rafts,” which prevent them from drifting away.

  

What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?3

  Eurasian river otterA Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) plays underwater.(more)Unlike sea otters, river otters are able to spend significant time on land and are opportunistic, feeding on whatever is most easily obtained in rivers, on land, and even in brackish or saltwater environments in coastal areas. They often hunt for fish, frogs, and crayfish and forage for crabs and mussels under rocks.

  

What’s the difference between river otters and sea otters?4

  sea ottersA mother sea otter (Enhydra lutris) with her pup in Prince William Sound, Alaska.(more)River otters reach sexual maturity between two and three years of age and often produce multiple pups in each litter. Sea otters mature more slowly and produce only a single pup at a time. Sea otters frequently position their pups atop their stomachs to guard them while swimming. On hunting trips, mothers sometimes wrap their offspring in a protective layer of kelp and leave them to float along the surface; very young baby sea otters are unable to sink because of their buoyant fur. River otters, in comparison, travel with their pups alongside or shelter them in a burrow along a riverbank.

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Recommend >
First French Empire
     Greatest extent of Napoleon I's empire, 1812 (more) First French Empire historical empire, Europe Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study...
How to recover lost cryptocurrency—and how to keep it safe
     Where will the next security vulnerability pop up?© bong/stock.adobe.com, © reshoot/stock.adobe.com; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Cryptocurrency scams are constantly evolving and growing more sophisticated, but you can take preventive measures to avoid ever becoming a victim. And if your crypto is stolen, there are ways to recover it.   Whether your goal is to recover your crypto or ensure that...
Second Cabinet of Donald Trump
  Second Cabinet of Donald Trump Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Kenny Chmielewski Kenny is an associate cartographer at Britannica and has worked there since 2008. When not making maps and infographics for Britannica, he enjoys photographing the beautiful city of Chicago. Kenny Chmielewski, Amy Tikkanen Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica....
My So-Called Life
     My So-Called Life Claire Danes and Jared Leto in the television show My So-Called Life (1994–95). (more) My So-Called Life American television series Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Kirk Fox Kirk Fox is a content writer who has been involved in the music scene in the Chicago area for a long time....
Information Recommendation
major figures in Roman mythology
  major figures in Roman mythology Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Alicja Zelazko Alicja Zelazko is Associate Editor, Arts and Humanities, covering topics in the visual arts, architecture, music, and performance. Before joining Encyclopædia Britannica in 2017, she worked at the Art... Alicja Zelazko Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors...
State and local taxes you paid: Are they tax deductible?
     If you itemize, strategize.© Stone's Throwe Photo/stock.adobe.comGovernment services like roads, schools, and social programs don’t come free. To fund these necessities, federal, state, and local governments rely on taxes. Whether it’s income, property, or sales taxes, you and everyone else must contribute their share.   Because you pay taxes at the state and local level, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)...
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
     Padmanabhaswamy Temple One of the richest temples in the world, holding valuables estimated to be worth about $22 billion, is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kerala, India. (more) Padmanabhaswamy Temple Hindu temple, Thiruvananthapuram, India Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Charles Preston Charles Preston is Associate Editor for Religion at Encyclopædia Britannica....
Bret Easton Ellis
     Bret Easton Ellis American writer Bret Easton Ellis, 2019. (more) Bret Easton Ellis American author Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Written by Nicholas Gisonna Nick Gisonna started writing online in 2010 on his own website writing reviews of burgers and diners in New Jersey. Since then, he has contributed to video game, movie, and...
Civil Rights Act of 1866
     Civil Rights Act of 1866 The first page of a manuscript copy of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal civil rights bill in U.S. history. (more) Civil Rights Act of 1866 federal statute, primary source Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Public Law 39-26, 14 STAT 27 Written and...
Jasprit Bumrah
  Jasprit Bumrah Indian cricketer Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Jasprit Jasbirsingh Bumrah Written by Sanat Pai Raikar Sanat Pai Raikar is a quizmaster and writer based out of Bangalore, India. His first quiz book, Three's A Quiz, was written from memory. Sanat has cofounded Quizarre, which provides quiz, crossword,... Sanat Pai Raikar...
Philippine eagle
     Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) The Philippine eagle is considered to be critically endangered. (more) Philippine eagle bird Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print print Print Please select which sections you would like to print: Table Of Contents Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer...
Battle of Freiburg
     Henri, Viscount of Turenne During a period of the Thirty Years' War, the commander of the French armies in Germany was Henri, Viscount of Turenne, an experienced soldier. Joining him to help retake Freiburg was Belgium's Duke of Enghien. © Kean Collection—Archive Photos/Getty Images. (more) Battle of Freiburg European history [1644] Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print...