Both Otters and Beavers share similar habitats and can often look similar at the first glance, which is why most people wrongly identify one for the other. However, in reality, Otters and Beavers are two very different animals belonging to different orders. In this article, we will tell you about the differences between these two animals on grounds of their diet, appearance, reproductive cycle, and so on. So, what are the differences between otters and beavers?
Other than their similar habitats, Otters and Beavers have no similarities whatsoever. While Otters are large, carnivorous mammals, Beavers are semi-aquatic rodents who strictly follow a vegetarian lifestyle. Otters have a long, slim, and glossy body like that of seals, whereas Beavers have a rounded body like other rodents.
Beavers weigh about twice as much as Otters, and live twice as long, too. The tails of these two animals are very different from each other.
Otters have a long and pointed tail, while the tail of a Beaver is flat, broad, and oval-shaped. Both Otters and Beavers have a specific mating season, but while Beavers are monogamous and reproduce with their partners, Otters look for a new partner every season. Otters are the carnivorous mammals that belong to the family of Mustelidae, a family in which animals like minks, wolverine, badgers, and weasels also reside.
If you take a closer look at their family, you will find that all the different species of Otters are together grouped in the subfamily of Lutrinae. There were far too many Otters in the past than those that have survived. Today, you can find about thirteen species of otters in the world, with the rest of their siblings extirpated.
Beavers are large, herbivorous rodents. Native to North America, they are the second-largest rodents in the world after the Capybara of South America. These rodents are popular worldwide for building dams , canals, and lodges. Beavers belong to the genus of Castor, which consists of a total number of three species. While two of them are extant North American and Eurasian beaver , the remaining one Castor Californicus has been extirpated.
It is true that both Otters and Beavers live in similar habitats. Take a look at the table given below to notice the differences between their lineage and other physical characteristics. Since all the living species of Otters are either semiaquatic or aquatic, the name seems fitting for them. Since Beavers have brown skin, their names are quite justified. At first glance, these mammals look somewhat similar to seals. Their face is small, with black eyes set on the sides of it, with thin whiskers all over their face.
Their ears are basically holes with little upper skin. They have small, black eyes, and the hair around their nose is lighter in shade than the rest of their body. Their ears are more prominent than the Otters, round and black, placed at the side of their eyes. The Otters have two sharp teeth protruding from their lower jaw with a considerable gap between them. Beavers use these teeth to cut through wood.
To swim comfortably, Beavers have see-through eyelids and closed nostrils as well as ears. Beavers are well-known for their large, paddle-like tails that can be heard slapping the water from time to time. On the other hand, otters have long, round tails completely covered in fur. Otters are carnivores and hunt whatever they can find in the water. Beavers, on the other hand, are strict vegetarians that primarily feast on tree bark, shrubs, and aquatic plants.
Otters can be found near rivers, marshes, and coastlines. They thrive in both freshwater and marine environments. The main difference between beavers and otters is the sort of destruction they are responsible for. I always knew it was the same one because it had bite marks on the shell. Based on your article I am guessing River Otter. Consequently I had no time to focus.
Jamestown Island James River. I would love to have confirmation or correction on my guess from someone with more experience. Thanks for the great information. Our house on a lake in Nova Scotia is frequently visited by beavers, and I have to cage our small trees to keep them!
A few days ago we had a the head of a large fish catfish, I think left on our dock and wondered how it got there. We thought maybe an osprey dropped it. Well today we found the culprit — an otter! Never seen one here before, quite exciting. Very cool, John. Some day soon, I hope! Thanks for the great write up about these aqautic animals. Considered a Beaver but did not see any evidence of chewed vegitation around this lake as I have seen at other locations.
I actually saw the Muskrat breach, probably going after a small fish, and I had remembered Beavers were Herbivores so had honed in on Muskrat but you post confirmed it. BTW I know a Waugh family personally. I really enjoyed this excellent comparison, and your beautiful photos. It is well-written and helpful. I have questions about behavior of otter vs muskrat. I have seen both muskrat often , and beaver occasionally , in the pond near my house south central Maine.
Today I think I saw an otter. I thought it was a muskrat, at first. It raised its head and neck vertically out of the water. Sometimes it dove like a porpoise, but at other times it disappeared backward into the water — rearing up, and sinking straight down. It also seemed more active, as you mentioned, and more curious. Usually the muskrats just scram as soon as they notice me.
This critter stayed around, repeatedly rising up, diving, and reappearing, looking in my direction, while moving past the dock where I was sitting with my dogs. Sometimes it swam with head and tail showing, and a few times I saw its body as well. Stephanie, it definitely sounds like an otter.
The fact that you could see the head and neck periscoping out of the water like that is a pretty good clue. Most of the time they remain flat in the water.
Otters, however, are long enough and have the body control to get a higher viewpoint while treading water if necessary. This was so helpful, thank you! Thank you for your photos and tips. I live in eastern North Carolina, where we have nutria, an invasive species, along with otters.
Any tips on distinguishing between the two when they are swimming? I am guessing that the clues you gave for muskrats and beavers would apply to nutria. Bryan, the nutria is larger than a muskrat but smaller than a beaver… but really, it looks like a cross between the two in some ways. Look for the narrow, bare tail like the muskrat , larger facial features like the beaver. The very long, bushy whiskers may be another giveaway. They seem to be more prominent than those of the other two.
Today in South Jersey on a 10 mile kayak run in the first three miles we kept seeing the same little face looking at us from behind some sticks close to the bank in the water. Too curious to be a beaver? I thought otter, bc face grayish in color, also, I was able to make eye contact with it and it was non aggressive.
Beaver usually slap tail or hit bottom of the kayak. Do otters make a soft chitter sound? Hi Vi. When it swims it looks more like beaver I think —just can see the head? We have beavers at my cottage, and this creature is not a beaver. Does the movement on the ice help with what it is? Thank you!! That seems suspect at this time of year, however. Otters and mink, on the other hand, are bounders and can move fairly quickly mink especially can dash about like a weasel.
Otters have those long, sometimes curved necks and can periscope effectively. Not sure if this helps. I imagine group size and the movement on the surface are your best clues here. If you get a photo at some point, feel free to send it to me for verification!
Not sure about nutria. The otter seem easier to identify. After reading your articles and viewing your pictures, i am still uncertain. These two i am now observing who appear to be nesting under my cedar log dock lead me to muskrat, though they seem fairly large. They go out about 40 feet from the dock and float with most of their body visible. Then they dive and i think are coming up with vegetation When swimming back toward me, i could distinctly see the tail acting as a motor at the surface of the water, not submerged.
Do mustrats or beavers, or both, power their swimming with their tails at surface level? Granted, beavers will go out and grab vegetation too, but usually large sticks or branches to bring back to the lodge.
Muskrats often go for greener, almost seedweed-like grasses to munch on. I have often seen them make forays like you describe. If you ever get a chance to grab some photos, feel free to send them to me to see if I can verify! So glad I found this page! Thanks so much for this! My husband and I just got back from Yellowstone yesterday and had a few ID issues with some of the animals we photographed. We hiked Trout Lake what a fun hike to capture the little creatures of Yellowstone!
Well, he won, it was a beaver. Gonna go check out the coyote vs. There are otters and muskrats there, but I have never heard of a beaver sighting. Coincidentally, it was a muskrat-mistaken-for-otter at Trout Lake that motivated me to write this article in the first place. Ok, but what are the sound differences. I have been looking all over the internet to figure out which of these animals I heard. I was doing a creek walk in the northern sierra area when I came across some kind of animal.
I heard splashing, but it was too far to get a good look at other identifying characteristics. But as I came closer I heard a low hum or purring that I think was a defensive growl. What are the different defensive noises each of these animals. Beavers are rodents, and they have the typical rounded body of rodents, along with a blunt face and well-developed front teeth for gnawing. Like otters, beavers also have a tail adapted for swimming -- in their case for steering -- but it is broader and flatter.
Both groups of animal have thick, brown waterproof coats to keep them warm in their partially aquatic environment. Both otters and beavers are semiaquatic, spending much of their time in the water.
The various species of otters are found in freshwater and marine habitats throughout Asia, Europe, North and South America and Africa. The natural habitat of beavers is limited to freshwater in North America, Europe and parts of Asia.
The North American beaver is widespread in the United States and Canada, while the Eurasian beaver once had a range that covered much of Europe and Asia. Otters are carnivores, living on fish, amphibians, aquatic reptiles and invertebrates and often taking the role of top predator in freshwater ecosystems.
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