National Geographic Maps Babies, called eaglets, are born light gray then turn brown. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. Unregulated trapping and loss or degradation of aquatic habitats through filling of wetlands and development of coal, oil, gas, tanning, timber, and other industries resulted in extirpations or declines in otter populations in many areas (Toweill and Tabor 1982, Melquist and Dronkert 1987). Otters will place the rock on their chests, and repeatedly smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal the tasty meal inside. Freshwater is a precious resource on the Earth's surface. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. River otters are in their element in Yellowstone’s early winter. National Geographic Young Explorer, Scout/Voyager Page 1 Vol. salty water, usually a mixture of seawater and freshwater. Of that, only about 1.2 percent can be used as drinking water; the rest is locked up in glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost, or buried deep in the ground. Some rivers flow year-round, while others flow only during certain seasons or when there has been a lot of rain. Rivers that overflow their banks also deposit sediment in the surrounding flood plain. But did you know these mammals are also top predators? To crack open hard-shelled prey, the otters smash them on stone anvils. Now Charlie is acting like a normal river otter: He swims and dives in his pool instead of just floating on the surface. Its diet includes birds, small rodents, frogs, crabs, and fish. But he must learn to fend for himself. A river can be wide and deep, or shallow enough for a person to wade across. National Geographic Headquarters Fast-flowing rivers carry pebbles, sand, and silt. It's easier just to steal mums. Rivers can also form what is called an estuary, where salty seawater mixes with fresh water near the river mouth to form “brackish water.”  The Hudson River in New York, U.S., is an example of an estuary where brackish water extends more than 241 kilometers (150 miles) upstream. Along the way, rivers may pass through wetlands where plants slow down the water and filter out pollutants. Whether it’s a lake, river, swamp or estuary, otters like a mix of land and water. Her goal is to ensure you have the tools you need to enhance student understanding and engagement with nonfiction text. From each river’s source, the water meanders through the landscape meeting up with other streams and shaping civilization as we know it. Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society, Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society Browse: Home North American River Otters Pictures And Facts - National Geographic. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. They generally live along rivers, as their name implies, but they're also found near streams and lakes. For this reason, some of the most biodiverse habitats on our planet can be found around rivers. Common otter is the other name for this animal. A river is a ribbon-like body of water that flows downhill from the force of gravity. If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact ngimagecollection@natgeo.com for more information and to obtain a license. Soon, she'll send him on his way. The majority of otters spend most of their time on land. Terms of Service |  In the wild, they can live to be 35 years old or more. Rivers only hold a small amount of the Earth’s water, but they have always been vital to human life, carrying freshwater to people and animals all over the world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in … © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. Collectively, scientists estimate that all the rivers in the world carry about 3.6 billion metric tons (four billion tons) of salt from land to the ocean each year. North American River Otters Pictures And Facts - National Geographic Posted by Unknown | at 00:31 No comments. Learn more about floods with these resources. Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. "But he still likes to suck his tail and toes like a baby!" In warmer times, you may also see otters sliding down a riverbank. Did you know some dolphins live in rivers? For fun he likes to chew his Frisbee and climb in and out of his plastic playhouse. 1145 17th Street NW Floods are among the most expensive and frequent natural disasters in the United States, and as the impacts of climate change are more acutely felt, floods are expected to worsen. A river is a large, natural stream of flowing water. This can occur when there is a large amount of rain, rapid snow or ice melt, a blast of water onto a coastline during a storm, or the failure of manmade infrastructures, such as dams or levees. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. Females retreat to their underground dens and deliver litters of one to six young. As the river begins to slow down—as in a wetland, at the outside of a bend, or where the river widens, such as at the mouth—these sediments sink and build up to form deltas. 19 No. all the different kinds of living organisms within a given area. Most are small, with short ears and noses, elongated bodies, long tails, and soft, dense fur. Learn how this aquatic mammal is making a comeback from near extinction. It is also home to many diverse fish, plant, and crustacean species. But the fun is coming to an end for this mother and her nine month old pup. People also call it North American river otter. The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. All rights reserved. Collectively, scientists estimate that all the rivers in the world carry about 3.6 billion metric tons (four billion tons) of salt from land to the ocean each year. Also called hydroelectric energy or hydroelectric power. Otters place a rock on their chests and smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal the tasty meat inside. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. This water is the lifeline of ecosystems around the world. Credits. Teach your students about the Earth’s rivers and streams with the resources in this collection. mouth of a river where the river's current meets the sea's tide. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. River otters are in their elements. Nilsson (1980) reviewed the status of otters … These deltas and floodplains are highly fertile agricultural zones that offer tremendous value to the surrounding people. solid material transported and deposited by water, ice, and wind. Fascinated by these otters? By land and by sea. The erosional power of rivers can form geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon. While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves. The habitats that freshwater ecosystems provide consist of lakes, rivers, ponds, wetlands, streams, and springs. If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Floods are events where water overflows onto land that is typically dry. Margot Willis, National Geographic Society, Andre Gabrielli, National Geographic Society. Rivers are found on every continent and on nearly every kind of land. Bald eagles can soar over 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) high, and their great eyesight lets them see fish up to a mile (1.6 kilometers) away. Most of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams. After a few bumps, they can slide up to 22 feet on the ice. raised edges of land on the side of a river. A river is a large body of fresh, flowing water. Privacy Notice |  Sustainability Policy |  Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. But it's not frozen yet, so they'll feed here while they can. Photo Ark Home Female Neotropical River Otter | National Geographic Society Skip to content Giant river otters check out the scenery in Kapoeri Creek, Suriname. Otters prefer water bordered by … power generated by moving water converted to electricity. Only about three percent of Earth’s water is freshwater. 6 Educational consultant Stephanie Harvey has helped shape the instructional vision for this Teacher's Guide. 6 TEACHER'S GUIDE Scout and Voyager Vol. Here's fair warning: cute doesn't necessarily mean cuddly. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. Apr 10, 2014 - Get to know these charismatic members of the weasel family. In Egypt, for example, the Nile River and its adjacent delta helped give rise to the Egyptian empire that built the pyramids. © 1996 - 2021 National Geographic Society. A flowing body of water that is smaller than a river is called a stream, creek, or brook. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. Each of these uses can affect the health of a river and its surrounding ecosystems. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. All rivers have a starting point where water begins its flow. They can thrive in any water habitat, such as ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers, and estuaries—in cold, warm, or even high-elevation areas—as long as the habitat provides adequate food. Today, farmers in the flood plain of California’s Central Valley produce approximately one-third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed in the United States. 1145 17th Street NW Photograph by Nicole Duplaix. River otters are aquatic mammals. Terms of Service |  When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. The pup is still learning to fish. I am going to offer some of the most interesting and rarely known river otter facts and that includes river otter habitat, diet, reproduction, and behavior. When you reach out to him or her, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource. And when he's tired, Charlie crawls into his hammock and lounges tummy-up. The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. There are 13 species in total, ranging from the small-clawed otter to the giant otter. The Ganges (Ganga) River is a sacred body of water to Hindus that begins high in the Himalaya Mountains and empties out into the Bay of Bengal. The largest salamander in North America is elusive and facing threats. Sea otters can eat up to 75 mussels per hour. Monitoring the health of rivers, lakes, and streams is important work that is conducted by scientists called limnologists. 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