Mammal
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Size
57–95 cmAbout the length of a skateboard
Weight
5–12 kgAbout the weight of a large bag of dog food
Lifespan
4–5 years
Rarity
Uncommon
M vs F
Males are significantly larger — up to 30% heavier than females
Habitat
Clean rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal areas; a key indicator species for water quality
Best time
Winter (bare riverbanks make them easier to spot at dawn and dusk)
Conservation
UK: Amber
NT
💡 Did you know?
UK otters were nearly wiped out by organochlorine pesticides in the 1970s — they have since made a remarkable recovery on rivers across the country
Their fur traps a layer of air for insulation rather than using blubber, so otters must spend hours each day grooming to maintain waterproofing
Often confused with
Mink (smaller
darker
no pale throat)
Coypu (larger
blunt muzzle — very rare in UK)
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