The mustelids are carnivorous animals among which we find the otters, which belong to the Lutrinae subfamily. In total, there are 12 species of otters and 31 subspecies, which are grouped into 8 genera. They are animals with a wide distribution in Asia, Africa, America and Europe, so their habitats are very diverse. However, all otters are animals with habits associated with water, whether fresh or s alty. Some can be in one or the other aquatic ecosystem indistinctly, while others are more specific and only accept one of the two.
When you spend so much time in the water, it's common for you to ask us how otters sleep, because one of the peculiar aspects of these mammals is precisely their way of sleeping. If you have also wondered about it, in this article on our site we talk about it, don't miss it!
Where do otters sleep?
Otters have behaviors that are not common in other animals. We have an example in the oriental small-clawed otter (Amblonyx cinereus), native to Asia and that develops in various types of aquatic ecosystems. This cute animal not only plays with the mud and water where it lives, but is also capable of juggling objects such as small rocks. Others like the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) is capable of throwing small pebbles into the water. It has also been observed that marine species use rocks that rest on their chests to open certain prey on which they feed.
In the same way, depending on the species of otter, their sleeping habits vary. Thus, not all sleep in the same type of bed, the following being the most common:
Burrows
Depending on the species, otters are found in freshwater or s altwater ecosystems, but some even interact with each other. Likewise, the type of burrow they use to sleep is also different. In the case of living in freshwater ecosystems, such as the spotted-necked otter (Hydrictis maculicollis), which develops in permanent clear-water river systems, they build burrows to live near water, although these are usually kept dry and it is the place where they usually sleep.
For its part, the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), although it can also be present in coastal marine ecosystems, when it inhabits in freshwater places build underground burrows or use holes under logs, which may have underwater entrances leading to a dry, leaf-covered chamber, mosses, hairs and bark that they use to nest and rest. Something similar occurs with the smooth-haired otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), cases in which the family group prepares a space along the shore of the river or lake where they live and develop their activities., which implies, among others, rest.
In water and rocky areas
But as we have mentioned, otters also live in maritime areas and in this case they do not usually have excavated or underground burrows, but rather they develop between the sea and rocky areas of the coast, as happens, for example, with the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) and the cat otter (Lontra felina).
The sea otter spends most of its time, including when eating and sleeping, in the water, but usually comes out when the density of otters is very high in the aquatic environment or there are strong storms. The cat otter, although it comes to rest in the water, also opts for coastal marine spaces with abundant rocky areas and the presence of caves, which are elevated, where they can escape from predators. In addition, they go out to these terrestrial spaces to rest, sunbathe, play and groom themselves, since the latter is a very common act in otters.
In this sense, we can conclude that otters that live in freshwater areas tend to sleep outside of it, while those with marine habits do so within these ecosystems.
How do otters sleep?
How do river otters sleep? The truth is that the otters that live in freshwater ecosystems do not have a peculiar way of sleeping, however, the species that develop in maritime areas, such as the sea otter and the cat otter do sleep in a particular way.
As we have mentioned, the latter spend most of their time in the water, even to sleep. Now, how do sea otters go to sleep? It is common to see otters sleeping hand in hand, but why do they do it? Is this your only way of sleeping? To sleep in the marine environment they are placed in the back position to float, but normally they hold each otherof the forelimbs to hold on, which they can do in pairs or even between more individuals. This allows them to stay together while they sleep and not be left alone adrift in the sea. In other words, otters hold "hands" when they sleep so as not to float apart and thus prevent any individual in the group from getting lost. So, if you've ever wondered why otters sleep holding hands, you already have the answer.
However, the above is not the only way these animals have to rest. Another way otters living in s altwater, especially sea otters, have been reported to sleep is as follows: still floating on their back, but wrapping themselves in masses of algaethat prevent them from moving. In this case, the lower extremities are above the water level, but the upper ones are placed on their chest or in some cases they cover their eyes. These are, without a doubt, peculiar behaviors that draw attention to the sleeping habits of otters.
When do otters sleep?
The activity and habits of otters vary from one species to another and, although some are usually active during the day, as is the case of the oriental small-clawed otter, the sea otter, the North American river otter, the cat otter and the neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis), others rather do it at night, such as the African clawless otter and the otter southern river (Lontra provocax). In this sense, those with diurnal habits sleep more at night and those with nocturnal habits sleep during the day.
A common aspect among the species is that they are very active, spending a significant amount of time eating, playing and grooming themselves, as well as caring for their young during the reproductive season. There are no specific reports on exactly how much otters sleep.
If you love these animals and want to keep learning new things, don't miss these other articles:
- Where do otters live?
- What do otters eat?
