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Animal Age

How old does a North American river otter get? (age expectancy)

What is the maximal age a North American river otter reaches?

An adult North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) usually gets as old as 25 years.

North American river otters are around 58 days in the womb of their mother. When born, they weight 136 grams (0.3 lbs) and measure 14 cm (0′ 6″). As a member of the Mustelidae family (genus: Lontra), their offspring is 2 babies per pregnancy. Fully grown, they reach a bodylength of 68.5 cm (2′ 3″).

As a reference: Usually, humans get as old as 100 years, with the average being around 75 years. After being carried in the belly of their mother for 280 days (40 weeks), they grow to an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) and weight in at 62 kg (137 lbs), which is obviously highly individual.

A North American river otter gets as old as 25 years

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. An adult North American river otter can weigh between 5.0 and 14 kg (11.0 and 30.9 lb). The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur.The North American river otter, a member of the subfamily Lutrinae in the weasel family (Mustelidae), is equally versatile in the water and on land. It establishes a burrow close to the water’s edge in river, lake, swamp, coastal shoreline, tidal flat, or estuary ecosystems. The den typically has many tunnel openings, one of which generally allows the otter to enter and exit the body of water. Female North American river otters give birth in these burrows, producing litters of one to six young.North American river otters, like most predators, prey upon the most readily accessible species. Fish is a favored food among the otters, but they also consume various amphibians (such as salamanders and frogs), freshwater clams, mussels, snails, small turtles and crayfish. The most common fish consumed are perch, suckers, and catfish. Instances of North American river otters eating small mammals, such as mice and squirrels, and occasionally birds have been reported as well. There have also been some reports of river otters attacking and even drowning dogs.The range of the North American river otter has been significantly reduced by habitat loss, beginning with the European colonization of North America. In some regions, though, their population is controlled to allow the trapping and harvesting of otters for their pelts. North American river otters are very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution, which is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. A number of reintroduction projects have been initiated to help halt the reduction in the overall population.

Animals of the same family as a North American river otter

Not really brothers and sisters, but from the same biological family (Mustelidae):

Animals that reach the same age as North American river otter

With an average age of 25 years, North American river otter are in good companionship of the following animals:

Animals with the same number of babies North American river otter

The same number of babies at once (2) are born by:

Weighting as much as North American river otter

A fully grown North American river otter reaches around 8.09 kg (17.83 lbs). So do these animals:

Animals as big as a North American river otter

Those animals grow as big as a North American river otter: