But make no mistake, say evolutionary geneticists, Homo sapiens are still evolving. Like, how can you resist such a cute face?! MUNIR UZ ZAMAN, AFP/Getty Images. So too are other animals and plants. Sea otters are awful. Since they are semiaquatic mammals, river otters spend time both on land and in water. A gay man who is very hairy all over his body, but is smaller in frame and weighs considerably less than a bear. Long-tailed otters are more tolerant of human disturbance than Giant otters, and may inhabit degraded forest where humans are present, but they are not tolerant of pollution or substantial habitat alteration. Otters can be very dangerous and aggressive. no I disagree. You can see them socializing in otter groups called rafts, wrapping themselves in kelp fronds or clasping paws with neighbors to avoid drifting apart while they sleep. “Some otters too, like sea otters, are also keystone species, meaning their presence contributes to the health of a given habitat based on their foraging and hunting behavior.” What Otters' Penis Shrinkage Could Mean for Humans Scientists are concerned about the deformed sex organs of England's otters — and what it might mean for humans. Fisi Maji – The spotted-necked otter lives in Africa, south of the Sahara. You've probably seen the image macros floating around Facebook, exclaiming over how they hold hands while they sleep to make sure they don't drift apart. And yet, Paine left himself and his 7.4 billion peers out of the very framework that he had created. Sharp teeth help rip apart the meat of the clam. As human activity expands, giant otter home ranges become increasingly isolated. They are really smart and talented too. Otters were protectors of swimmers and sea travellers. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae.The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on fish and invertebrates.Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals. To make matters worse, they fear that tar sands pollution could have an effect on humans’ reproductive systems as well. In Ring of Bright Water, Maxwell described this feeling as "a thraldom to otters, an otter fixation". Look, we all know otters are cute as heck, with their big eyes and sharp little teeth.But just because an animal is cute does not mean you should bring it home with you. Watch the way they can summersault and twirl in the water. Gay otters are so cute! [72] Specific threats from human industry include unsustainable mahogany logging in parts of the giant otter range, [69] and concentrations of mercury in its diet of fish, a byproduct of gold mining. Swimming on its back, a sea otter's belly serves as a perfect table. In Bangladesh, otters help fisherman maximize their haul. This means that if there are human structures close to the water’s edge, such as boat landings and decks, otters will take advantage of this fact and build their nests there if they have to. They are basically ballerinas. They are expert swimmers and spend much of their time hunting for prey in water, where they catch mainly fish and invertebrates. Otters and their mustelid relatives were once hunted extensively for their fur, many to the point of near extinction. Feb. 26, 2013, 6:19 PM UTC Otters. Scientists are concerned about the deformed sex organs of England's otters — and what it might mean for humans. Otter’s symbolism and meaning reflects the ability to play, and to find renewed joy in your life for balancing out the more stressful or demanding times in life. River otter species hunt and travel in the water, but frequently rest and play on land. What it means to be an otter, an emerging tribe for gay men, is rather open to debate. They can help us identify public health problems related to pollution and infections. They gave them dog traits which means otters were playful, loving and extremely loyal. With hairy features that give off a magnetic vibe, they are hard to ignore. River otters are active day and night; around humans they tend to be more nocturnal. Otters might look soft and cuddly but remain dangerous wild animals. Otters have a link to humans. 10. Learn more about staying safe around sea otters. Otters have strong teeth and a powerful bite. In nature, there are two types of Otters, one in the sea and one who lives in rivers. If you’ve never heard of the term, gay otter, we’re going to define it … Sea otters are large oceanic weasels that were extensively hunted for their fur—the world’s densest—in the 19th and 20th centuries. These people are considered to be optimistic and little bit mischief. Otters spend their time feeding and at what appears to be group play. Humans have helped otters recover. When the otters no longer have their canine teeth, they cannot chew on fish. They can learn to play games like we do. They also dry their fur, groom themselves, and mark their territory by vigorously scratching, rubbing, and rolling on the ground. For a sea otter it may mean a breakfast of nutritious clams. Gay otters represent one of the largest swath of men within the gay classification system. When necessary, otters will dig their own burrows and build their nests from scratch. Gay otters are adorable and often very playful. The natives call this otter fisi maji, which means “water hyena” in Swahili. These otters make dens in natural cavities along riverbanks above the high-water level (Pardini and Trajano, 1999). Those which are kept as pets, most have their canine teeth removed so that they don’t bite humans,” he said. This name reflects the otter’s hunting prowess and ferociousness. During mating, a male sea otter will bite down on his female mate's nose, which typically leaves the female's snout bloodied and will usually leave scars. Though otters are social creatures, they can be quite violent with each other. Analysis: otters are attracted to cities for their rivers, which are rich with such prey as fish, eels and water birds. This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator. However, most of the time they will just simply take over another animal’s burrow. At a conference last October, An alarming number of them now have shrunken penis bones (baculum), as well as undescended testicles, called cryptorchidism, and cysts on sperm-carrying tubes, … Scientists are concerned about the deformed sex organs of England's otters — and what it might mean for humans. Subadults leaving in search of new territory find it impossible to set up family groups. They protected them from waves and streams. The humans of the future will look and function very much as they do today. If an otter notices you, it probably means you’re too close. Across Europe, the number of otters declined in the last century. If otters become infected with parasites from fish, then there is the potential for humans to get those parasites if they eat the same fish. He, a single human, had reshaped a tiny corner of world. Report this Content. OTTERS AND HUMANS CAN COLLABORATE. In Native American astrology, if you were born between January 20 and February 8 then you were born under the sign of otter. The otter is one of the cutest living things we can envisage. Humans almost hunted sea otters to extinction for their fur! No, the only time otters are mean is to defend its self or babies.That's sweet. Today Sea otters can be found in nearly two-thirds of their historic range, with populations in Alaska, Washington, California, Canada, Russia, and Japan. So whether you see an otter on land or at sea, be sure to maintain a safe distance of at least 50 yards and never feed sea otters. 11. Advertisement. “People still view that otters can be kept as pets, but they belong in the wild. The furry mammals are found in rivers throughout England and Wales, but male otters aren't what they used to be. They are not timid and will attack humans. According to the research, river otters are a “sentinel species,” meaning they often are affected by exposure to contaminants before other species register those changes. Photo by Lilian Carswell, U.S. Sea otters smile just like humans! Otter embodies both Water and Earth Energies. As one who has actually known a few otters, I can tell you that they tend to be curious, friendly and playful.