otter

Table of Contents

References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

Witness the playful gliding and fishing of river otters in a freshly thawed North American river

river otter and sea otter

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

For Students

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

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otter: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Non-swimming otters rehomed in Lincolnshire take the plunge • Apr. 25, 2025, 11:38 PM ET (BBC)

Facts

Also Known As	Lutrinae

Photos and Videos

River otter (Lutra canadensis).

Witness the playful gliding and fishing of river otters in a freshly thawed North American river

Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands

See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Topics

river otter Lontra clawless otter North American river otter marine otter Congo clawless otter Asian small-clawed otter African clawless otter speckle-throated otter smooth-coated otter badger weasel polecat

Quiz

Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Animals, mammals.

Ultimate Animals Quiz

Lion (panthera leo)

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vulture. An adult bearded vulture at a raptor recovery center. The Gypaetus barbatus also known as the Lammergeier or Lammergeyer, is a bird of prey and considered an Old World vulture.

Animal Factoids

Sea otter (Enhydra lutris), also called great sea otter, rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Floats on back. Looks like sea otter laughing. saltwater otters

Animal Group Names

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Match the Baby Animal to Its Mama Quiz

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List

animal. Amphibian. Frog. Anura. Ranidae. Frog in grass.

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cat. orange and white persian cat with long hair, snarl, growl, teeth

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Portrait of western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bayanga, Central African Republic

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