All the Otter species, except the Sea Otter, have a tail that is long and muscular to help them in swimming. Otters have a long, slim, and glossy body like that of seals, whereas Beavers have a rounded body like other rodents. While Otters are carnivorous mammals, the Beavers are herbivores and follow a strictly vegetarian diet throughout their life. Out of the 13 extant Otter species that we can find today, 11 are freshwater otters, while the remaining 2 are saltwater otters. When compared with a Beaver, an Otter looks almost hairless. Occasionally we see them in the SF Bay Area. Despite the difficulty that may be involved in differentiating groundhogs and beavers, neither of them is a good sign to home and property owners. Otters can also eat small mammals or birds if they are easily available in their surroundings. They also use crayfish, crabs, and frogs as a supplement in their diet. Groundhogs vs. Beavers: Comparison Table . Otters are more vocal than beavers and muskrats, letting out the occasional yelp or bark. Feb 19, 2020 - Explore Diane Richardson's board "BEAVERS, OTTERS AND MUSKRATS", followed by 235 people on Pinterest. SEA OTTER (Enhydra lutris) In California, sea otters are most often seen around Monterey Bay and Elkhorn Slough. Since Beavers have brown skin, their names are quite justified. Sea otters are twice the size of river otters, and are never far from the ocean. The Otter had a general configuration so similar to the Beaver that someone inexperienced with aircraft could confuse the two -- except if they were seen side-by-side, since the Otter was much bigger than the Beaver. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. As a starting point, they have completely different feeding habits, but other interesting facts are must-reads. Sea otter is also a strong fighter, but in a fight between both the animals’ a beaver is a clear winner. Beavers weigh about twice as much as Otters, and live twice as long, too. In the winter season, the barks of trees make up about half of their diets. However, if the female’s pup dies, she looks to get pregnant again quickly to have another offspring. The two species of beaver, the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver, have a quite different shape. Otters have a long and pointed tail, while the tail of a Beaver is flat, broad, and oval-shaped. Also found along the west coast of Scotland. Otter’s offspring is called pup and is born without being fully-matured, while Kit, the Beaver’s younger one, is fully-matured when it is born. In this article, we will tell you about the differences between these two animals on grounds of their diet, appearance, reproductive cycle, and so on. While the courting takes place on land, Otters return to the water to mate. If you look at Otters and Beavers closely, you will find that the two are indeed very different animals in every aspect. Otters have a specific mating season, which varies by the species as well as the location of their habitat. Viking also builds its own DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otter, manufactured from a completely new airframe. All otter species are carnivorous, and feed on fish, frogs, birds, molluscs, and other invertebrates. These rodents enjoy eating the inner bark of trees in particular. While Otters are large, carnivorous mammals, Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents who strictly follow a vegetarian lifestyle. The Otters have two sharp teeth protruding from their lower jaw with a considerable gap between them. Other than their similar habitats, Otters and Beavers have no similarities whatsoever. However, the kits still stay with their parents until they are 2 years old, after which they lead their independent lives. Otter is a semi aquatic carnivorous mammal of the Order: Carnivora and Family: Mustelidae. Beavers also like to chew on the soft cambium present beneath the tough upper layer of the bark. For the first 12 months, mother otters nurse its young ones. Therefore, fish is their staple food. Beaver is a large semi aquatic mammal of the Order: Rodentia and Family: Castoridae. Otters are carnivorous, whereas Beavers strictly adhere to a vegetarian lifestyle. Since both have the potential to cause issues, homeowners are encouraged to try habitat modification to reduce the possibility of finding either on their property. Since all the living species of Otters are either semiaquatic or aquatic, the name seems fitting for them. If you take a closer look at their family, you will find that all the different species of Otters are together grouped in the subfamily of Lutrinae. These interesting nocturnal animals are famous for building dams, canals, and lodges. Beavers are herbivorous mammals and they especially prefer the wooden parts of plants. Today, you can find about thirteen species of otters in the world, with the rest of their siblings extirpated. Have you ever been confused between an Otter and a Beaver before? • Beavers prefer still water, but otters prefer running water. Some species of Otters can open shellfish and feed on them. It means that water is the central habitat of all Otter species. Filed Under: Animals Tagged With: beaver, Carnivora, Castoridae, Eurasian beavers, Mustelidae, North American beavers, Otter, Rodentia, sea otters, semi aquatic carnivorous mammal. Beaver has sharp teeth and more mass that helps him to attack its opponent easily. The body of a Beaver is rounded like the other rodents and has a thick, brown fur all over it. When compared with a Beaver, an Otter looks almost hairless. In contrast with the Otter’s teeth, Beavers have two almost conjoined front teeth that in their upper jaw that are orangish in color. Otter and beaver are completely different animals, but with much similar looking appearances. There were far too many Otters in the past than those that have survived. They eat a lot and have a very high metabolic rate. The beaver is a member of the order Rodentia. Using existing airframes only, Viking now sells a remanufactured and rebuilt DHC-2T Turbo Beaver upgraded with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 680-hp turboprop engine, a gross weight increase to 6,000 pounds, and 2,450-pound useful load. While Otters are mammals, Beavers belong to the family of rodents. The female. Take a look at the table given below to notice the differences between their lineage and other physical characteristics. All rights reserved. The Beavers, on the other hand, practice monogamy strictly. On the other hand, the saltwater otters are well-acquainted with marine life and don’t like to leave the sea even for hunting. The gestation period extends up to 120 days, after which the female Beaves can give birth to 3-4 kits at a time. Otters are the carnivorous mammals that belong to the family of Mustelidae, a family in which animals like minks, wolverine, badgers, and weasels also reside. Their pregnancy lasts for 2 – 3 months, and the newborn cubs live with families including fathers and siblings as well. The tails of these two animals are very different from each other. Female Otters can give birth to up to 6 pups at a time, but a single pup is most commonly born to them. • Otter has webbed paws in both pairs of limbs, whereas webbing is only present in the hind feet in beaver. Naveen is a Doctoral Student in Agroforestry, former Research Scientist and an Environmental Officer. There are only two species known as Eurasian and North American beavers. The body of a Beaver is rounded like the other rodents and has a thick, brown fur all over it.