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https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/otters/adaptations/

https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/north-american-river-otter#:~:text=The%20mammals%20have%20thick%2C%20protective,the%20otter%20through%20the%20water.

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North American River Otter

Scientific name - Lontra canadensis

Found throughout North America in riparian zones and in both marine and freshwater habitats.

Physical description - These otters have long, muscular bodies with short legs and webbed feet equipped with claws. They have a long neck attached to a small head, and a strong, long tail. They can range from 26-42 inches, with females being about 1/3 of the males size.

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Otter A has a much smaller body than Otter B.

Otter B has a larger tale fit for swimming in rough waters, while Otter A has a smaller tale that can be used to navigate calmer waters.

Otter B has a white chest with dark spots.

Otter A has more fur than Otter B.

Otter B has larger and stronger arms than Otter A.

Otter B has more visible whiskers than Otter A.

Otter B has larger ears that stick out more than Otter A.

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Otter B has a larger tail than Otter A. This variation could lead to natural selection because since Otter B has a larger tail that is fit for swimming in rough waters, they may be able to survive in this environment better than Otter A. Otter A has a smaller tail that may be used to navigate calmer waters, but if put in rough waters, they may not be able to survive and will result in over many generations have natural selection make large tails a more common trait.

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Found throughout North America

Aquatic habitats - streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes

Can live in warm and cold temperature environments

Biomes - freshwater and coastal marine habitats

Food sources for otters - fish, crayfish, crab, frog, bird eggs, bird, and small reptiles such as turtles.

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These otters do what is called thermoregulation. Since heat conductivity in water is 27 times faster than in air of the same temperature, mammals can lose body heat extremely quickly. North American River Otters have higher metabolic rates than other land mammals, so they can generate more body heat. Specifically, their metabolic rate is 50% faster than land mammals of the same size. Having a high metabolism means that otters can survive in cold waters in North America, which is a great example of a physiological adaptation.

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One structural adaptation for these otters is having a long narrow body with a flattened head. This allows for streamlined movement in the water so they can swim fast. Having short legs and webbed feet also makes it easier for them to push through the water. A muscular tail aids in propelling the river otter through bodies of water.

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One behavioral adaptation of these playful creatures is their ability to dive under the water quickly. Doing this proves to be useful for many reasons. This can be to find food, get to its den, escape predators trying to eat them, or just to have fun.

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Otters are members of the Mustelidae family, which includes American badgers.

Scientific name - Taxidea taxus

Live throughout Western and Central United States.

Physical description - weighs 10 to 11 pounds, and are well suited for burrowing and digging as they have strong shoulders, short legs, large claws, and short ears. Average size is between 24 and 30 inches in length.

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One difference between the North American River Otter and the American Badger is their tails. The badger has a short, shaggy tail, while the otter has a long, strong tail.

Having different tails allows each organism to survive in their environments because the badger's tail is furry, small, and is adapted to survive on land. On the other hand, otter's tails are long and muscular so they can be used to navigate strong currents underwater.

Underwater currents can be rough and without an otter's tail, they can get swept away. This condition can cause the natural selection of this trait because the otters with weak and short tails were not able to survive underwater. American badgers don't have a need for a long strong tail, so natural selection may have badgers with smaller tails survive over badgers with big floppy tails.

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Scientific name - Salmo trutta

Environment - Found throughout North America in rivers, lakes, and streams.

Physical description - The fish often have a brassy look with green to yellow sides. They have dark spots on the top, with fins that allow them to move easily through the water. Their size typically ranges from 15-22 inches.

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Both can be brown in color.

Both have tails

Both have long, agile bodies

North American River Otters and Brown Trout both have these traits in common because they both live in the same environment and have to adapt to the aquatic conditions. Having long tails allows the fish and otter to navigate through the water and not get pushed away by the currents. Being brown in color means that they can blend into the water when mud makes the water murky and dark.

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Natural selection is the process by which animals with advantageous traits have the ability to survive and pass those traits on for generations. Traits that aren't beneficial result in organisms with those traits not being able to survive most of the time.

The environment has played a role in North American River Otters and their adaptations because otters have strong tails and long muscular bodies that allow them to push through the water even when there are strong currents. Inherited variation affects these otters by having otters of the same species be varying sizes. Larger otters have larger tails and can move through the environment better than smaller otters, for example. Speciation genetics affect this species as well because they are members of the Mustelidae family, but cannot breed with other members of the family, such as American Badgers. They have evolved separately, which results in them becoming their own species that only allows breeding within the otter species.