File:North American river otter standing in snow - DPLA - 279e9391ac12362ebfd5991dc0d98838.jpg

35 mm slide; color. Scientific Classification: Kingdom: Animalia; Phylum: Chordata; Class: Mammalia; Order: Carnivora; Family: Mustelidae; Genus: Lutra; Genus species: Lutra canadensis. Animal characteristics: Head-Body Length: 66-107 cm; Identification: The coat color of the river otter varies from gray-brown to reddish-black. Its undersides are paler, and the feet are webbed to allow for increased agility in the water; Habitat: Rivers, streams, swamps, marshes; Diet: Carnivore: fish, mollusks, crabs, amphibians, birds, eggs, small reptiles and mammals; Reproduction: River otters mate in the late winter/early spring. Implantation of the fertilized eggs is delayed for 290-380 days. True gestation then takes place for 60-63 days. One to six pups are born in March or April. The male may help care for the young once they have left the den. The pups will remain with their mother until the following breeding season. River otters can live for 5-7 years in the wild; Social Structure: Although they will often leave scent marks to tell of their presence, river otters are not territorial; Behavior: Otters are well known for their intelligence and great curiosity. They are also extremely playful; Status: No special status; Interesting Facts: A single otter may move as far as 96.6 km along a waterway in a single season. Predators of river otters include alligators, bobcats, and coyotes. They are also trapped for their fur.