![]() ![]() Sea otters are basically solitary, but in Alaska they aggregate in large groups of as many as 2,000 animals. Males may maintain a loose association with a female and her young.Īsian small-clawed otters live in loose family groups of about 12 animals. Giant otters exhibit a high degree of pair bonding and group cohesiveness.Ĭape clawless otters have a clan-type social organization, with groups of related animals associating with one another and defending joint territories. ![]() Groups with as many as 20 individuals have been reported, but groups of 4 to 8 are more common. A female group may contain 8 to 20 individuals, but become smaller during mating when females pair off with males.Ī giant otter social group consists of an adult pair, one or more subadults, and one or more juveniles. On Lake Victoria in East Africa, spot-necked otters may undergo a cycle of aggregation and dispersal, with males and females forming separate groups. Spot-necked otters have been observed in groups of more than 6, and as many as 20, animals. In Southeast Asia, smooth otters typically occur in social groups consisting of an adult male-female pair and their young. A female with young may become dominant to males. Males and females normally tolerate - but do not accompany - each other. The highest ranking males occupy the most favorable ranges. Most male and female river otters form separate dominance hierarchies. They often sleep in strands of kelp which keeps them from drifting. Sea otters sleep at sea, floating on their backs on the surface. Individual animals often have several resting places. They are not particular about where they sleep and often do so even in areas of moderate disturbance. Sleepįreshwater otters generally rest and sleep on land, either above ground or in dens. These latter researchers have observed very little behavior they interpret as play. Others believe otters only use these slides for low-energy travel, maintaining that otters generally do not climb to the top of a slope for another slide. For some species, otters of all age classes have been observed sliding. Some researchers believe that sliding is a form of play in river otters. Otters produce small amounts of spraint several times a day, depositing it in conspicuous designated areas and spraying it with scent. Spraint is a visual and olfactory indicator of an otter's presence. River otter feces, commonly referred to as spraint by otter researchers, is enormously important in otter communication. An otter's flexible body and loose-fitting skin allow it to reach every part of its fur. They may also aerate their fur by blowing air into it and beating the water with their feet to whip it into foam. They use their paws and claws to remove debris and to comb their fur. Researchers have observed sea otters spending at least 11% to 48% of their day grooming. Most vigorously dry themselves by rolling on the ground or rubbing against logs or vegetation. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for drying and grooming their fur. Individual Behavior GroomingĪll otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. ![]() River otters may be either diurnal or nocturnal most are generally more active at night.Ĭlawless otters are mainly nocturnal, though some individuals may be active during the day in remote areas that are free of human disturbance.
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