Celebrate World Otter Day With These 5 Surprising Otter Facts

Otters are well known for their playful, energetic, and inquisitive behavior. However, did you know that otter play has a purpose other than just having fun? Or that otters are some of the most intelligent animals on the planet? Otters have a remarkable combination of physical adaptations, keen senses, and cognitive abilities that make them equally successful on land and in the water. Keep reading to learn more about these important predators and discover five surprising facts about otters. And mark your calendar, because World Otter Day is celebrated the last Wednesday of May each year.

All About Otters

Otters are semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals in the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, ferrets, badgers, and wolverines, among others. There are 13 otter species in the subfamily Lutrinae. Otters live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Only two otter species, sea otters and North American river otters, can be found in the U.S.

Otters thrive in a variety of habitats, but most species inhabit freshwater rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Sea otters and marine otters primarily live in the ocean, with sea otters living exclusively in saltwater. Otters vary greatly in size, ranging from the tiny Asian small-clawed otters, which are less than 3 feet long and weigh up to around 10 pounds, to the giant otters of South America, which can reach nearly 6 feet in length and weigh up to 75 pounds. While otters may appear cute, they are apex predators in their respective ecosystems.

1. Otters Have the Thickest Fur of Any Animal on Earth

Sea otters have up to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch, giving them the thickest fur of any animal on the planet. The human head only has about 2,000 hairs per square inch. Otters do not have a blubber layer to help them stay warm like most marine animals do, so they rely on two layers of thick fur. They have a layer of long, coarse guard hairs that repel water and a dense undercoat that prevents heat loss. Sea otters also blow air into their fur to create air pockets. This essentially forms a bubble around the otter and insulates them up to four times better than an equivalent layer of blubber.

2. Otters Are One of the Few Animals That Use Tools

Tool use is rare in the animal kingdom and has been documented in less than 1% of currently identified species. Sea otters use rocks to crack the shells of prey such as marine snails, clams, and crabs. They store leftover food and their favorite rocks in the loose pockets of skin under their arms. Researchers found that otters that use tools can eat a wider variety of prey, and that consuming hard-shelled food using tools requires less energy. Scientists believe that sea otters have likely been using tools for thousands, possibly even millions, of years.

3. Otters Are Highly Intelligent

Tool use isn’t the only sign of intelligence in otters. Both smooth-coated otters and Asian small-clawed otters have demonstrated social learning and long-term memory capabilities when it comes to learning new tasks. This suggests otters have the ability to learn from experience. Researchers have shown that North American river otters can even visually distinguish between two-dimensional objects. Giant otters and Asian small-clawed otters have also been shown to exhibit cooperative problem-solving behaviors.

4. Otters Work Together to Raise Young and Defend Territory

Some otter species are not only cooperative breeders, but they also work together to defend their territory from threats. Giant river otters of the Amazon live in family groups of up to 20 members. They raise pups as a family and jointly defend their territory from other otter groups and predators such as caiman and jaguars. There is some evidence that they also forage and hunt cooperatively. Asian small-clawed otters likewise live in extended family groups, raising pups, grooming one another, and defending against predators as a unit. Smooth-coated otters also forage cooperatively and guard against threats as a group.

5. Play Is Important to Otters’ Survival

Otters are often seen sliding down riverbanks, playing in the snow, and wrestling in the water. However, their playful behavior serves a greater purpose. Otters have very high metabolisms and are not as coordinated on land, so sliding helps them conserve energy and cover more distance. Rock juggling may facilitate motor development in young otters, while preventing cognitive decline in senior otters. Scientists also believe play activities teach young otters important survival skills, such as how to hunt, how to develop social bonds, and how to interact with their surroundings. Even in adult otters, play is thought to hone hunting skills, reinforce social bonds, and help with scent marking territory.

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