otters
Whiskered river mammals
Otters are semiaquatic mammals with sleek bodies, webbed feet, and dense waterproof fur.
They're known for playful behavior—sliding down mudbanks, floating on their backs, using rocks to crack open shellfish.
Sea otters live in coastal waters; river otters inhabit freshwater.
We watched the otters chase each other through the kelp.
Large flowing watercourse
- streamSteady continuous flow
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- wetlandWaterlogged land ecosystem
- coastalOf the shoreline
kelp forest · freshwater · saltwater · den · holt · burrow · marsh · lake
Animal body hair
- whiskersFacial sensory hairs
- webbed feetSkin-connected toes for swimming
- pawsAnimal feet
- clawsAnimal gripping nails
tail · pelage · coat · underfur · guard hairs · nostrils · ears · snout
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
- crabPincer-bearing shellfish
clam · urchin · mussel · crayfish · frog · fish-eater · foraging · prey
Inclined toward fun
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
chirping · social · curious · mischievous · frisky · romping · denning · scent marking
Flat water conveyance
- familyRelated people together
- pupYoung canine or seal
- motherFemale parent
- bondingForming close connections
group · holding hands · nurturing · communal · colony · pair bonding · parenting · teaching
Locomotion through water
- divingEntering water deliberately
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- amphibiousOperating on land and water
- buoyantAble to float
backstroke · dog paddle · holding hands · rafting · anchoring · breath-holding · underwater · surface
Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- mustelidWeasel family member
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- North AmericanFrom U.S. or neighbors
- EurasianOf two connected continents
Attractively charming
- adorableExtremely endearing
- cuddlyPleasantly huggable
- mascotGroup's symbolic figure
- viral videosWidely shared online clips
aquarium · zoo · emoji · wildlife watching · ecotourism · plush toy
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
fur trade · reintroduction · protected · sanctuary · wildlife · recovery · population decline · oil spills
river
Large flowing watercourse
coastal · kelp forest · freshwater · saltwater · den · holt · burrow · marsh · lake · pond
fur
Animal body hair
- whiskersFacial sensory hairs
- webbed feetSkin-connected toes for swimming
- pawsAnimal feet
claws · tail · pelage · coat · underfur · guard hairs · nostrils · ears · snout · dense fur
fish
Gilled aquatic vertebrate
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
crab · clam · urchin · mussel · crayfish · frog · fish-eater · foraging · prey · hunting
playful
Inclined toward fun
- frolicLighthearted playful movement
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- slidingMoving smoothly across surface
wrestling · chirping · social · curious · mischievous · frisky · romping · denning · scent marking · vocalizations
raft
Flat water conveyance
bonding · group · holding hands · nurturing · communal · colony · pair bonding · parenting · teaching · cooperation
swimming
Locomotion through water
- divingEntering water deliberately
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- amphibiousOperating on land and water
buoyant · backstroke · dog paddle · holding hands · rafting · anchoring · breath-holding · underwater · surface
mammal
Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- mustelidWeasel family member
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- North AmericanFrom U.S. or neighbors
cute
Attractively charming
viral videos · aquarium · zoo · emoji · wildlife watching · ecotourism · plush toy
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
poaching · fur trade · reintroduction · protected · sanctuary · wildlife · recovery · population decline · oil spills · bycatch
- Zooszoo exhibits, zoo train, zoo tours, zookeeper, animal exhibits
- Canadian wildlifecaribou, beaver, moose, Canada goose, polar bear
- carnivoransdogs, cats, wolves, foxes, bears
- Pacific CoastPacific Ocean, beach, Pacific coast, sand, Pacific beaches
- caniformsbears, dogs, wolves, foxes, raccoons
- Coastal AlaskaSitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay, fjords
- sea otterMarine mustelid mammal
- river otterSemiaquatic freshwater mustelid
- otter pupJuvenile mustelid offspring
- giant otterLargest freshwater weasel relative