Otters

Otters are the dogs of the water world, so it's no small wonder that we humans have such affection for them.

So what is it about otters than make them so otterly amazing?

Otters have the densest fur of the animal kingdom.

Otters spend a large amount of time in the water, yet they still have fur.

Otters can be found all over the world.

Otters can be found in unpolluted waters all over the world in marshland, freshwater rivers, lakes, oceans and coastlines.

There are 13 known species of otters, which range in size from 2.9 feet (90 cm) all the way to 5.9 feet (1.8 m) long!

Otters are expert hunters.

Otters are known to be pretty incredible hunters, living off a diet of mostly seafood.

While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves.

Sea otters are known for their remarkable ability to use rocks to smash open shellfish to fill their stomachs.

The majority of otters spend most of their time on land.

Most species of otters actually spend their time on the banks of rivers and other bodies of water when they're not hunting.

Sea otters though, are the complete opposite.

Not all otters eat seafood.

In a bizarre turn away from their normal diet, there are some otters in the Shetland Islands in Scotland which have been known to hunt rabbits instead of fish.

Otters are very social animals.

Otters are usually found in small family groups with the mother and her young offspring.

During mating season, or when there's an abundance of food you will find much larger groups of otters.

Otters are raised by their mothers.

Otters are born with their eyes closed, and as soon as they open they have a lot to learn like swimming and hunting.

Otters and humans sometimes work together.

Historically otters have been used by humans to aid in the process of fishing all over the world.

Nowadays this technique is still practiced in Bangladesh, where trained otters are used to chase fish into fishing nets.

Sea otters hold hands when they sleep.

These otters don't just do this to be incredibly adorable though.

Sea otters also hold onto kelp that grows from the floor of the sea for the same purpose.

River otters rarely make their own homes.

Otters?

River otters are much more likely to take another animal's home instead of building their own.

There's a surprisingly large amount of names used to describe otters.

When otters are born they can either be called pups or kittens.

Female otters can be called sows or bitches, and male otters can be called boars or dogs.

There's also no single collective noun for them - if there's a group of otters on the water they are called a raft, but if they're on land they can be called a bevy, family, romp, or lodge!

Otters can hold their breath for a really long time.

Otters, like humans, are mammals.

Sea otters can hold their breather underwater for more than 5 minutes, and river otters can hold theirs for more than 8!

Otters eat 15-20 percent of their bodyweight daily.

Otters have to eat vast amounts of food every day, which takes up a significant portion of their time.

It's key to their survival to eat such great quantities, especially for sea otters, as they use up so much energy keeping themselves warm.

A lot of species of otters were once at risk of becoming extinct due to their highly sought-after fur.

While the practice of hunting otters is no longer a common practice, they're still at risk.

Otters survive by hunting, and as such they live in unpolluted waters.

There are so many cool facts about otters that it's no small wonder they've become a bit of an internet sensation.