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The smooth-coated otter has, as you can tell from its namesake, very smooth fur that is actually shorter than other otter species. They hail from southern and southeastern Asia. These otters prefer large rivers, lakes, wetlands, and mangrove swamps, typically requiring good bankside vegetation for shelter, resting, and denning. Unfortunately, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The hairy-nosed otter is native to southeast Asia and Australasia. These critters are the rarest and least known otter species. Sadly, they face many threats such as habitat loss and destruction at the hands of residential and commercial developments, farming, ranching, aquaculture, and logging; habitat division at the hands of […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The otter civet, aka otterzivette, Sunda otter civet, and cibeta nutria – to name a few, can be found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. They are a semi-aquatic viverrid (Old World civet). They prefer lowland primary forests, secondary forests, bamboo forests, and logged forests. These cool critters face the […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The neotropical otter, aka neotropical river otter, can be seen from Central America, down to South America, and on the island of Trinidad. They can tolerate a wide range of habitats from rice and sugar cane plantations, to drainage ditches, to swamps and wastewater treatment plants. They can also be […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Eurasian otter, aka Eurasian river otter, European otter, European river otter, Old World otter, or common otter, is found in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. They prefer rivers, lakes, streams, freshwater forests, peat swamp forests, ocean shorelines, rice fields, fjords (long, narrow, deep inlets of the sea between high […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The African clawless otter is renown for its amazing, luxurious fur coat. Like all otters, they are cute and can be very playful. These critters are the second largest known freshwater otter species, after the giant river otter. They can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. African clawless otters like streams, […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest known otter species. Their hands and feet are only partially webbed and they have short claws. This aids in sensitivity to touch and a heightened dexterity, which helps them find food under rocks and in the mud. Small-clawed otters can be found in […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The European polecat, aka the forest or black polecat, is a Mustelid native to England, Scotland, and Northern Africa. They prefer forest plantations, open scrublands, marshes, areas near the rivers, and sea cliffs. There are 7 known subspecies of European polecat. Due to their furand their occasional desire to eat […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

The North American river otter, aka Canadian otter, is found in North America from Canada and Alaska to the Rio Grande. They steer clear of arid deserts and treeless Arctic regions. These otters prefer riparian zones and can be found in the same locations as beavers. They can live around […]

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This article was originally published on Critter Science.

Few critters have tugged the heart strings quite like the sea otter. They float on the surface of the cold ocean water, feet pointing towards the sky, holding hands and juggling rocks. These cute creatures are the smallest sea mammal but the biggest member of the weasel family and, like […]

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