They slip through the water like furry torpedoes, roll on riverbanks like children on a playground and hold hands while they nap. Otters are nature"s playful pranksters. They belong to the Mustelidae family, a diverse group that includes weasels, badgers and minks and are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. With 13 species worldwide, including the European otter, giant otter and sea otter—pictured here—these semi-aquatic animals are adapted for life in water. Their webbed feet, dense fur and strong tails make them excellent swimmers. Beyond their cuteness, otters play a vital role in ecosystems.
Sea otter
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Greater flamingos, Camargue Regional Nature Park, France
-
Castell y Gwynt, Snowdonia, Wales, United Kingdom
-
Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Boca Grande, Florida, United States
-
Badlands National Park, South Dakota, United States
-
Tulips, Netherlands
-
Temple of Hathor, Dendera Temple Complex, Qena, Egypt
-
Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College, University of Oxford, England
-
Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
-
Chinstrap penguins
-
Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, Germany
-
Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
-
Bohemian waxwings
-
Pointe du Diable, Saint-Pierre, Réunion Island
-
Eurasian red squirrel
-
Archway Islands, Wharariki Beach, South Island, New Zealand
-
Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
-
A great egret in the Pantanal
-
Ayna, Albacete, Spain
-
Ploumanach Lighthouse, France
-
Wind River, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, USA
-
Honey bee on lavender flowers
-
Pygmy three-toed sloth
-
Castellfollit de la Roca, Catalonia, Spain
-
Tasmans Arch, Tasman National Park, Tasmania, Australia
-
Swaledale sheep in North Yorkshire, England
-
Fraser River near Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
-
Jurassic Coast, Dorset, England
-
Joshua trees under the Milky Way, California, United States
-
Magellanic penguins
-
Gespensterwald, Niehagen, Germany