There are many types of otters in the world. Scientists believe that sea otters descended from fish-eating, otter-like ancestors about five to seven million years ago, during the late Miocene and early Pliocene period. North American river otters are likely the most numerous of the otter species. Apply. Like most other otter species, giant otters come ashore to give birth. It belongs to the weasel family and its subfamily is the Lutrinae. Species Name: African Spotted-Necked Otters Scientific Name: Lutra maculicollis Continent: Africa Proud Parents: Derrick Low Madison Thomas Flynn Dickson Luis Ortega Jason Neild Tom McElhaney Alex B. Atherton Nancy Smith Grethe Trondsen Mila Garro ⦠However, only one species of otter is fully aquatic â Enhydra lutris. Adults range in weight from 50-100lbs and grow to 4-5ft from head to tail tip. However, water pollution, uncontrolled trapping and severe habitat loss have reduced the number of river otters. The scientific name for an otter is Carnivora, with otter being its common name. Fast Facts Description In appearance, sea otters are stouter and have larger rib cages, smaller tails and blunter muzzles than other species of otters. This species is aptly named because sea otters rarely come on land. The Sea Otter's scientific name is Enhydra lutris, which means "otter that lives in the water". Some live on land, some in freshwater, others in the sea. The fossil remnants of many freshwater otters date back to the Miocene (5 to 23 million years ago). Common Name sea otter Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Mustelidae Genus Species Enhydra lutris. Characterized by an elongated body with short sturdy legs, the otter is much larger than other mustelids and is adapted for a more aquatic habitat. Because they are at the top of their food chain, they have few predators. This 82-year-old animal lover and her pet otters may be adorable, but their doting companionship has also helped protect this special species. Species: Lontra canadensis. This is the species known as the sea otter. Show Aliases. Possible aliases, alternative names and misspellings for Lontra canadensis. The U.S. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic or aquatic, with diets based on fish and invertebrates. Common Name: Northern River Otter. Names . The river otter, along with weasels, mink and several other species, belongs to the family Mustelidae. No children of Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis) found. The taxonomy of otters puts them as the L Canadensis species. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in subfamily Lutrinae. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) listed the southern sea otter population as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1977 and adopted a recovery plan for the population 1982, which was updated in 2003. SWNS. 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