* River Otters:
* Sleek, elongated body with short legs and webbed feet
* Dark brown fur with a lighter underside
* Broad, flattened tail
* Average length: 1.2 - 1.5 meters (4 - 5 feet)
* Weight: 5 - 15 kilograms (11 - 33 pounds)
* Beavers:
* Stocky, heavyset body with short legs and large, webbed feet
* Dark brown or black fur with a dense undercoat
* Flat, paddle-shaped tail
* Average length: 0.7 - 1.3 meters (2.3 - 4.3 feet)
* Weight: 11 - 32 kilograms (24 - 71 pounds)
Habitat
* River Otters:
* Found in a variety of aquatic habitats, including rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands
* Prefer areas with clean water, abundant vegetation, and fish
* Beavers:
* Primarily found in freshwater habitats, such as rivers, ponds, and lakes
* Construct dams and lodges out of sticks and mud to create their own aquatic environment
Diet
* River Otters:
* Primarily carnivorous, feeding on fish, frogs, crayfish, and other small aquatic animals
* Beavers:
* Herbivorous, feeding primarily on leaves, bark, and twigs
Behavior
* River Otters:
* Social animals that live in family groups called "spraints"
* Active both day and night, but are most active at dawn and dusk
* Excellent swimmers and divers, capable of holding their breath for up to 5 minutes
* Beavers:
* Solitary animals except during mating season
* Nocturnal, spending most of the day sleeping in their lodges
* Skilled builders, capable of constructing dams and lodges out of sticks and mud
Conservation Status
* River Otters:
* Most river otter species are listed as either "Least Concern" or "Near Threatened" by the IUCN Red List
* However, some populations are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and hunting
* Beavers:
* The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List
* However, some beaver populations are threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and fur trapping