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Otters
Otters are playful animals that love water. They are mammals and belong to the Mustelidae family. This family also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines. There are 14 different species of otters around the world.
Otters have long, slim bodies and strong webbed feet that help them swim. Their thick fur keeps them warm, even in cold water. They live both on land and in water, near rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Otters love to play! They often slide into the water and play with stones or other objects. They mainly eat fish, but some also eat frogs, birds, or shellfish. Otters are curious and friendly. They only act when they feel unsafe.
People have liked otters for a long time. In some places, otters help with fishing practices. They also appear in stories from many cultures, like Norse mythology and Native American traditions. Otters remind us to be playful and enjoy life.
Types of Otters
Here are some of the different kinds of otters:
| Image | Genus | Species |
|---|---|---|
| Lutra Brisson, 1762 | Eurasian otter ([Lutra](/wiki/Lutra) lutra) Hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) | |
| Hydrictis Pocock, 1921 | Spotted-necked otter ([Hydrictis](/wiki/Hydrictis) maculicollis) | |
| Lutrogale (Gray, 1865) | Smooth-coated otter ([Lutrogale](/wiki/Lutrogale) perspicillata) | |
| Lontra Gray, 1843 | North American river otter ([Lontra](/wiki/Lontra) canadensis) Southern river otter (Lontra provocax) Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) Mesoamerican otter (Lontra annectens) Marine otter (Lontra felina) | |
| Pteronura Gray, 1837 | Giant otter ([Pteronura](/wiki/Pteronura) brasiliensis) | |
| Aonyx Lesson, 1827 | African clawless otter ([Aonyx](/wiki/Aonyx) capensis) Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus) Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) | |
| Enhydra Fleming, 1828 | Sea otter ([Enhydra](/wiki/Enhydra) lutris) |
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Otter, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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