Otter

MFA Acc. #: 1984.322

Description

1) Small aquatic mammals of the family Mustelidae. Otters have very dense, soft underfur covered by long guard hairs. Otters are native to several areas around the globe where they live in both fresh water (River otter) and marine (Sea otter) environments. Once widely hunted and trapped to near extinction, otters are now protected by the 1911 Fur Seal Treaty.

2) See annatto.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Otter (Deut.); nutria (Esp.); loutre (Fr.); lutrinae (It.); lontra (It., Port.); otters (Ned.);

Additional Images

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  Brazilian Giant Otter

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  River Otter

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  Sea Otter

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  River otter skins

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  Otter

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "otter." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 14 Sept. 2005 .

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otter (Accessed Sept. 14, 2005)

• The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998