The beaver and otter may look similar but apart from sharing a love of water they are quite different, says Hazel Forrest from the Scottish Wildlife Trust <\/p>
If you are out walking next to a river or lake at dusk or dawn and you spot a large, brown, fur-coated creature slipping into the water, or notice a whiskered muzzle bobbing along in the half light, you could be forgiven for asking the question \u2013 \u201cWas that a beaver, or an otter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Both beavers and otters are moderately large, semi-aquatic, nocturnal mammals, native to the UK. Their shared water-based lifestyle has led to both species evolving similar adaptations \u2013 large lungs to allow them to hold their breath underwater for longer than other mammals their size (up to four minutes for otters and up to 15 minutes for beavers!); webbed feet for swimming; and dense, waterproof coats for warmth.<\/p>\n
Despite the similarities between them, however, they are in fact very different animals.<\/p>\n
No the beaver and otter are not related. The Eurasian beaver<\/a> <\/strong>(Castor fiber<\/em>) is a rodent in the taxonomic family Castoridae<\/em>. The only other living member of Castoridae<\/em>, and the only other living species of beaver, is the North American beaver, Castor canadensis (<\/em>Canada\u2019s national animal<\/a><\/strong>)<\/em>.<\/p>\n The Eurasian otter<\/a> <\/strong>(Lutra lutra<\/em>) is a carnivore in the family Mustilidae<\/em>, a diverse group that includes weasels, badgers<\/a><\/strong> and 12 other species of otter.<\/p>\n Like other rodents, the beaver is stocky with a rounded head and long incisor teeth. The beaver\u2019s incisors are coated in a thick layer of orange, iron-rich enamel and are open-rooted, meaning they grow continuously. Beavers\u2019 tails are long, flat and scaly, and are used much like a paddle, to help propel them through water.<\/p>\n Otters have long, sleek bodies and more pointed, dog-like heads. They have strong jaws, long, sharp canine teeth, and pointed molars, specially adapted for gripping fish. The otter\u2019s tail also aids propulsion, but is long, thin, and pointed as opposed to paddle shaped.<\/p>\nHow to tell the difference between an otter and a beaver<\/strong><\/h2>\n