[For Seniors] How many can you get right? Otter Trivia Quiz & Fun Facts

Asian small-clawed otter

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species, with a body length of about 40–60 cm. As its name suggests, it has small claws at the tips of its fingers. It’s a type of otter commonly seen in zoos and aquariums and is popular for its cute appearance.

The hair has a double-layered structure.

An otter’s fur has a dual structure, with long outer hairs and fine, densely packed inner hairs. The inner hairs repel water and create a layer of air, keeping the otter’s body dry. These inner hairs are said to be called the “undercoat” or “underfur.”

about 15 hours

Otters are said to sleep about 15 hours a day, and sometimes even longer, both in the wild and in captivity. Rather than sleeping in one long stretch, they take many short naps that add up to around 15 hours in total. They may seem active, but they make sure to get plenty of rest.

communicate through calls

Otters are very social animals. They communicate with one another using a variety of calls, such as “kyuu-kyuu” and “pee-pee.” They also use physical contact and other behaviors, but vocalizations are the most commonly used.

sea otter

Sea otters are animals in the family Mustelidae of the order Carnivora, just like otters, and they are relatives of otters. They also look somewhat similar, don’t they? The major difference is that otters live on land and in rivers, whereas sea otters live in the ocean. Seals and beavers belong to different groups.

fish

Otters live in rivers and the sea, and they mainly like to eat fish. They also eat shellfish and crabs, but their favorite is fish. Contrary to their cute appearance, they have powerful jaws and teeth, and they even chomp down fish whole, bones and all.

13 types

Currently, 13 species of otters have been identified worldwide. In Japan, the Japanese river otter is well known, but various otter species live across the globe. In addition, Japanese aquariums feature species such as the Asian small-clawed otter, the Eurasian otter, and the North American river otter.