Otters are carnivorous mammals with diets that vary by species but generally consist of a variety of aquatic animals.

What Otters Eat

• Sea Otters: Their diet mainly includes slow-moving fish and marine invertebrates such as crabs, sea urchins, abalones, clams, mussels, and snails. They are known for using tools like rocks to crack open hard shells of prey. Sea otters eat about 25% to 30% of their body weight daily, often lying on their backs while eating

• River Otters: They primarily eat crayfish, crabs, fish, frogs, turtles, insects, and occasionally small mammals and birds. Their diet includes non-game fish species and aquatic invertebrates. River otters consume about 15% to 20% of their body weight daily

• Other Otter Species: For example, giant otters mainly eat fish and crabs, while clawless otters focus on crabs, mollusks, and frogs. Some otters also opportunistically eat small mammals, birds, eggs, and amphibians depending on availability

Feeding Behavior

• Otters have high metabolic rates, requiring them to eat a significant portion of their body weight daily to maintain energy and body heat

• Sea otters use tools, such as rocks, to open shellfish and often keep these tools in skin pockets under their forearms

• River otters hunt using sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) to detect prey movements and catch prey with their teeth

• Otters are opportunistic feeders and will consume a wide range of prey depending on species and habitat

In summary, otters' diets are primarily composed of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic animals, with sea otters particularly specialized in eating shelled invertebrates using tools to access their food