North American River Otter: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins and Otters · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. River otters can stay submerged for up to eight minutes, and sprint on land at 29 km/h.
2. A river otter's pregnancy lasts two months, but the egg can wait before settling in, so pups may arrive up to a year after mating.
3. Adult river otters can gulp 1.0-1.5 kg of fish each day.
4. In one central California marsh, crayfish made up nearly 100% of otter meals at certain times of year.
5. A river otter's territory can span up to 78 km², though most occupy 8-39 km².

The quiz

1. How long can a river otter stay submerged?

• Up to one minute
• Up to eight minutes (correct)
• Up to an hour
• Up to 30 seconds

They can stay submerged for up to eight minutes.

2. How long after mating may river otter pups be born?

• Up to a week
• Up to two days
• About one hour
• Up to a year (correct)

The egg can wait before implanting, so pups may be born up to a year after mating.

3. How much fish can an adult river otter gulp each day?

• 1.0-1.5 kg (correct)
• 10-15 kg
• 0.1-0.15 kg
• 50 kg

They can gulp 1.0-1.5 kg of fish each day.

4. What made up nearly 100% of otter meals in a California marsh?

• Frogs
• Ducks
• Crayfish (correct)
• Eels

In that marsh, crayfish made up nearly 100% of meals at certain times of year.

5. How large can a river otter's territory be?

• Up to 7.8 km²
• Up to 78 km² (correct)
• Up to 780 km²
• Up to 1 km²

A territory can span up to 78 km².

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