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FACTS ABOUT: Otters otter

Definition: otter  Play otterpronunciation  A otter is Any of several sleek aquatic or semi-aquatic mammals that are related to the
mink and weasel, featuring thick dark brown fur, a long body, short legs, webbed feet, and a long, somewhat flattened tail.

Fun Facts


1. What is an Otter: An otter is a playful, furry mammal that belongs to the weasel family and is completely adapted for living both on land and in the water: they are the ultimate amphibious acrobats.


2. Super-Warm Fur Coats: Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal on Earth, with up to one million hairs packed into just a single square inch to keep freezing ocean water away from their skin: they wear a waterproof winter coat.


3. Holding Hands While Sleeping: When sea otters go to sleep in the water, they hold hands with each other in groups called rafts so they don't float away from their friends and family: they have built-in sleepovers.


4. Tool-Using Smarties: Sea otters are one of the few mammals smart enough to use tools, often floating on their backs and using a favorite flat rock on their tummies to smash open hard crab and clam shells: they are clever kitchen chefs.


5. Pocket Storage: Sea otters have loose folds of skin under their front legs that act like built-in pockets where they can stash their favorite rocks and tasty snacks while diving: they carry their own backpacks.


6. River and Sea Cousins: There are different kinds of otters all over the world, including small river otters that love to slide down muddy mudbanks for fun and giant river otters in South America that can grow as big as a grown human: they come in all sizes.


7. Built for Swimming: Otters are incredible swimmers who can close their ears and nostrils underwater, hold their breath for up to four minutes, and twist and turn with total grace: they are aquatic champions.