Otters are some of the most adorable animals in the world.
Otters live in habitats all over the world.
While they are often associated with rivers and streams, otters can also be found in marshes, lakes, and even the ocean.
These versatile creatures are well-adapted to their aquatic homes, and their webbed feet and streamlined bodies help them swim with ease.
Otters are also skilled hunters, using their sharp claws and teeth to catch fish, crabs, and other small prey.
In addition to being good swimmers, otters are excellent climbers and often build dens high up in trees.
Fortunately, there are many animals like otters in the world.
From their playful antics and endearing faces to their habitats and diets, these creatures have a lot in common with otters.
11 Animals Like Otters
Otters come from the Mustelidae family, which includes all species of otters, from sea otters to river otters to weasels.
This family also includes some of the most popular animals in the world, like ferrets, mink, badgers, and wolverines.
Otters have many different features that make them unique, but there are also several characteristics that they share with other members of their family.
This article will explore how some of these animals are like otters.
Pine Marten perched on a log | image by caroline legg via Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Scientific Name: Martes
Range: Europe, Asia, and North America
Diet: Small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit
Martens is a type of mustelid that includes the sable, fisher, pine marten, and beech marten.
These animals are found in forests all over the world, and they are known for their beautiful fur.
Like otters, martens have long, slim bodies and sharp claws that help them climb trees and catch prey.
They are also good swimmers, although not as proficient as otters.
Martens typically eat small mammals, birds, insects, and fruit.
For example, martens in North America are known to eat squirrels, while those in Europe often eat voles.
While martens and otters share many similarities, there are also some notable differences between the two.
Martens tend to be larger than otters, with some species weighing up to 20 pounds.
Badger eating grass | image by John Campbell via Flickr
Range: Great Plains region of North America
Diet: Frogs, earthworms, birds, rodents, eggs, insects, berries, seeds, and lizards.
Badgers are cute, short-legged animals from the family Mustelidae, which includes otters, wolverines, weasels, and polecats.
They live in setts – underground tunnels with several entrances – in woods, heaths, grasslands, and urban areas across Britain.
Like otters, badgers also have powerful claws for digging and long, sharp canine teeth.
They are also nocturnal animals; most of their activity takes place at night when they leave their setts to look for food.
Most badgers live alone or in pairs, but during the breeding season, family groups emerge from their setts to mate.
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Least Weasel | image by Joachim Dobler via Flickr | CC BY-ND 2.0
Scientific Name: Mustela
Range: Europe, Asia, North and South America, and far northern regions like the Arctic.
Diet: Small mammals such as voles, mice, rabbits, chipmunks, and gophers, with occasional insets and birds.
Weasels are small carnivorous mammals belonging to the family Mustelidae.
There are several species of weasel, including the European weasel, the stoat, and the least weasel.
Weasels are found throughout the world, from Europe and Asia to North and South America.
They typically inhabit wooded areas and prefer to live in caves or dens.
Like otters, weasels have long, slim bodies and short legs.
Weasels use their sharp teeth and claws to kill their prey, which includes small mammals such as voles, mice, and rabbits.
Minks chilling out on a cut log | image by fishhawk via Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Range: Ireland, Britain, and North America.
Habitat: Near water bodies such as lakes, streams, and ponds with nearby tree coverage.
Diet: Salamanders, frogs, crayfish, fish, muskrats, voles, and mice, along with aquatic birds and their eggs.
Minks are small, semiaquatic animals with long, slim bodies and short legs, and they are excellent swimmers.
They’re similar to otters in appearance, although they’re usually a bit smaller.
Minks are very active animals, and they typically hunt at night.
Range: North America, especially Massachusetts.
Habitat: Pine and cold boreal forests.
Fishers are a type of weasel found in North America.
They are closely related to otters and share many similarities with their aquatic cousins.
Like otters, fishers have sleek, water-repellent fur that helps to keep them dry and warm while they swim.
They also have long, webbed feet and a powerful tail that they use for propulsion.
In addition, fishers are excellent climbers and often build their dens high up in trees.
However, there are some key ways in which fishers differ from otters.
Fishers are larger than otters, and their diet consists mostly of small mammals such as rodents and rabbits.
While both animals are skilled swimmers, fishers are better adapted to life on land, whereas otters spend most of their time in the water.
Ferret on a woodcraft | image by zoofanatic via Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Scientific Name: Mustela putorius furo
Range: North Africa, Western Asia, and Europe except Northern Scandinavia and Ireland.
Diet: Small mammals, like rabbits, possums, prairie dogs, rodents and hedgehogs, birds and their eggs, amphibians, reptiles, and fish.
Ferrets and otters share a number of similarities.
Both are members of the Mustelidae family, with slim bodies, small heads, and short legs.
Their fur is thick and oily, which helps to repel water.
In addition, both ferrets and otters are good swimmers and have webbed feet.
Ferrets are domesticated animals, while otters are wild.
Ferrets are also typically much smaller than otters (around 20 inches long), with an average weight of just 2-4 pounds.
Wolverine sitting on a log | image by Mathias Appel via Flickr
Habitat: Cold areas, boreal forests, grasslands, tundra, and alpine forests.
Wolverines and otters are both furry animals that live in cold climates, but they have a few important similarities.
Both wolverines and otters have long, thick fur that helps to keep them warm in their icy habitats.
In addition, both animals are known for their strength and agility.
Wolverines can kill prey much larger than themselves, while otters are excellent swimmers who can twist and turn their bodies with ease.
Finally, both wolverines and otters are shy animals that typically avoid humans.
Scientific Name: Mustela putorius
Range: Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia
Habitat: Wetlands, grasslands, forests, woodlands, and steppe.
Although polecats and otters may not seem to have much in common at first glance, these two animals share several similarities.
Both polecats and otters are members of the Mustelidae family, which also includes badgers and weasels.
Like all members of this family, polecats and otters have long bodies, short legs, and thick fur.
Polecats and otters also share a love of water, and both species are excellent swimmers.
In fact, polecats are known to be one of the few land animals that will willingly enter the water to hunt for prey.
Scientific Name: Martes zibellina
Habitat: Densely forested areas.
Sables and otters are two animals that are often mistaken for one another.
They’re both small, furry animals that live in or near water.
They also have similar diets, feeding on fish, small mammals, and crustaceans.
However, there are some key ways in which sables and otters differ.
For instance, sables have long, thick fur that is prized for its softness, while otters have shorter, coarser fur that is more waterproof.
In terms of habitat, sables typically live in forests and brushlands, while otters can be found in freshwater rivers and lakes.
Finally, sables are solitary animals that only come together to mate, while otters live in family groups called “rafts.”
Range: Most of Central and South America, east of the Andes.
Although they occupy different places in the animal kingdom, Tayras and otters have many similarities.
They also share a number of physical characteristics, including webbed feet and elongated bodies.
In addition, tayras and otters are both proficient swimmers and are equally at home in the water and on land.
However, there are some important differences between these two animals.
However, there are some important differences between these two animals.
Tayras are native to Central and South America, while otters are found throughout the world.
Tayras are also considerably smaller than otters, with an average body length of just over two feet.
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A Honey Badger with a pup | image by Derek Keats via Flickr | CC BY 2.0
Habitat: Forests, grasslands, and dry areas.
Diet: Bird eggs, insects, bees, small animals, plant roots, and bulbs.
Honey badgers are dubbed the most fearless animals on earth.
But how are they similar to otters?
Both honey badgers and otters are excellent swimmers.
Additionally, both honey badgers and otters have strong claws that they use for digging.
While they may not look alike at first glance, honey badgers and otters actually share quite a few traits.
Examples of animals like otters include badgers, beavers, martens, minks, and raccoons.
Otters belong to the family Mustelidae and belong to the order Carnivora.
Otters have furry bodies, long tails, and webbed feet that make them excellent swimmers.
While they are often found in water, otters can also adapt to living on land.
This characteristic allows them to occupy a wide variety of habitats around the world.
Although they share some similarities with other animals, otters have unique features that set them apart from their counterparts.
In this blog post, we will take a closer look at some of the animals that resemble otters the most.
Examples of Animals that Look Like Otters
Examples of Animals that Look Like Otters
1. American Badger
1. American Badger
Scientific NameTaxidea taxusType of AnimalMammalRange North America
The American badger is a member of the mustelid family and is found in North America.
Badgers have short legs and stocky bodies with a wide head.
They are proficient in digging animals and often create burrows to live in or store food.
Badgers are solitary creatures and are not often seen in groups.
Scientific NameCastor canadensisType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
The American beaver is one of the most well-known animals in North America.
These rodents are known for their dam building and their furry tails.
Beavers also have webbed feet, which help them swim well.
While beavers do share some similarities with otters, there are also some key differences.
One of the biggest differences is that beavers are strictly herbivores, while otters are carnivores.
Beavers also have shorter legs and rounder bodies than otters.
Scientific NameMartes americanaType of AnimalMammalRangeCanada and Alaska
The American marten (Martes americana) is a member of the weasel family and is the closest living relative to the otter.
While the American marten does not have webbed feet, it does share many other similarities with otters.
Both animals have long, slim bodies that are covered in fur.
They also have long tails, sharp claws, and are proficient swimmers.
The two animals also occupy similar habitats.
American martens can be found in forests across North America, where they climb trees in search of prey.
Scientific NameNeovison visonType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
The American mink is a semi-aquatic mammal that is found in North America and Europe.
Minks are small animals with dark brown fur and long, slender body.
They have webbed toes and sharp claws that help them climb trees and swim.
Minks are solitary animals and prefer to live in wooded areas near water.
The Asian badger, also known as the honey badger, is a member of the mustelid family.
This family includes weasels, otters, and ferrets.
The Asian badger is native to Asia and is found in countries like China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
The Asian badger has a few features that make it resemble an otter.
First, they both have long, slender bodies.
Second, they both have short legs and webbed feet, which help them swim well.
Scientific NameProcyon lotorType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
The most notable similarity between raccoons and otters is their physical appearance.
Both animals have long, furry bodies, masked faces, and bushy tails.
In fact, the Chesapeake Bay area is home to a species of raccoon known as the “swamp rat” which is an excellent swimmer.
Scientific NameProcyon lotorType of AnimalMammalRangeall U.S. states and Canadian provinces
Although eastern raccoons are not water dwelling animals, they have several physical features that make them look like otters.
For instance, both animals have long, furry tails and webbed feet.
In addition, their bodies are similar in size and shape.
Eastern raccoons have black “masks” on their faces, while otters do not.
In addition, raccoons are omnivores, while otters are carnivores.
The Eastern Spotted Skunk is a small carnivore that is native to North America.
The animal is closely related to the Striped Skunk and has similar features such as its black and white fur.
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Scientific NameCastor fiberType of AnimalMammalRangesouthern Scandinavia, Germany, France, Poland and central Russia
They are also the only species of beaver that is found outside of North America.
Eurasian beavers have many similarities to otters, including their furry bodies, long tails, and webbed feet.
One main difference between these two animals is that Eurasian beavers are proficient tree-climbers, while otters are not.
Another distinction is that Eurasian beavers build dams and lodges out of sticks and logs, while otters do not.
European Badger
Scientific NameMeles melesType of AnimalMammalRangeBritish Isles, Europe, and Scandinavia
The European badger is a member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, and is found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Badgers are relatively small animals with short legs and bodies.
They have long, thick fur that is brown or black in color.
Badgers are mostly nocturnal animals that live in burrows.
They are omnivores and feed on a variety of foods, including insects, small mammals, and fruit.
Badgers have short, sharp claws that they use for digging and for defense.
Related Article: Do European Badger Burrow Underground?
Scientific NameMustela lutreolaType of AnimalMammalRangeEastern Europe
The European mink is a species of mustelid that is native to Europe.
This animal is similar to the otter in appearance and behavior.
Both animals have long, slim bodies and webbed feet.
The European mink is also an excellent swimmer and can be found in a variety of habitats including rivers, streams, and lakes.
Scientific NameMustela putorius furoType of AnimalMammalRangeWorldwide
Ferrets belong to the same family as otters, Mustelidae.
They are small carnivorous mammals with long bodies and short legs.
Like otters, they have long tails and furry coats.
Ferrets are often mistaken for otters because of their similarities in appearance.
However, there are some key differences between the two animals.
However, there are some key differences between the two animals.
For instance, ferrets have shorter noses and ears than otters.
In addition, ferrets typically weigh less than otters.
Scientific NamePekania pennantiType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
Fishers are often mistaken for otters because of their long, slim bodies and furry tails.
They are also members of the mustelid family and share many of the same characteristics as otters.
However, fishers are actually more closely related to weasels than they are to otters.
Scientific NameProcyon lotorType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth and South America
Raccoons belong to the same family as otters, Mustelidae.
Both animals have long tails and are proficient swimmers.
Raccoons are found in North and South America and their diet consists of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.
While they may look similar at first glance, there are some key differences between raccoons and otters.
Raccoons have shorter legs and rounder bodies, while otters have longer, slimmer bodies.
In addition, raccoons are nocturnal animals and their fur is not as dense as that of otters.
Greater Hog Badger
Greater Hog Badger
Scientific NameArctonyx collarisType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth and South America
The greater hog badger (Arctonyx collaris) is a species of mustelid that is found in central and Southeast Asia.
They are, however, more closely related to otters than any other animal on this list.
Hog badgers have long, coarse fur that is dark brown or black in color.
Their bodies are compact and muscular with short legs.
Like otters, hog badgers have webbed feet that help them swim.
Hog-nosed Badger
Hog-nosed Badger
Scientific NameArctonyx collarisType of AnimalMammalRangeSoutheast Asia
The hog-nosed badger looks somewhat like a cross between an otter and a pig.
These badgers have long, stout bodies with short legs.
Their tails are relatively short and their noses resemble that of a pig.
Hog-nosed badgers are found in Southeast Asia.
These badgers are proficient swimmers and often enter the water to catch fish.
Hog-nosed badgers are solitary animals.
Scientific NameMellivora capensisType of AnimalMammalRangesub-Saharan Africa
Honey badgers (Mellivora capensis) are members of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels, and ferrets.
These animals are known for their fierce demeanor and their ability to take down prey much larger than themselves.
The honey badger is native to Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Honey badgers are excellent diggers and often make their homes in burrows underground.
Related Article: Does Honey Badgers Have Claws?
Scientific NameOndatra zibethicusType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America
Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are a type of rodent that is closely related to the otter.
These animals are found in North America and parts of Europe and Asia.
Muskrats have brown fur and can grow to be up to 2 feet (60 cm) long.
Like otters, muskrats are excellent swimmers and have webbed feet.
These features help them move through the water with ease.
Scientific NameNeovison macrodonType of AnimalMammalRangeGulf of Maine area
The sea mink (Neovison macrodon) is a species of mustelid that is closely related to the otter.
The sea mink is the largest member of the weasel family and can reach lengths of up to 3 feet (0.91 m).
The sea mink is found along the coast of North America from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia.
It is a marine mammal that spends most of its time in the water, where it preys on fish and shellfish.
Scientific NameMustela sibiricaType of AnimalMammalRangeSiberia, Russia
They are both members of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, and wolverines.
The main difference between the two is that Siberian minks are larger in size.
Both otters and Siberian minks have long, furry bodies that help them stay warm in the water.
They also have webbed feet, which assist with swimming.
Otters have a more streamlined body shape that helps them move through the water quickly, while Siberian minks have a more compact body that allows them to maneuver better on land.
Scientific NameMephitisType of AnimalMammalRangethroughout North America
The striped skunk is a member of the mustelid family and is closely related to otters.
These animals are actually part of the same subfamily, which includes weasels, badgers, and wolverines.
Like otters, skunks have long, furry bodies and tails.
They also have webbed feet that make them good swimmers.
Scientific NameMustela ermineaType of AnimalMammalRangeNorth America, Europe, and Asia
Stoats are a member of the weasel family and are also Carnivores.
Like otters, they have long, slim bodies with short legs and long tails.
They are also excellent swimmers and have webbed feet.
The main difference between stoats and otters is their fur.
Stoats have white fur on their belly and black fur on their back, while otters have brown fur all over their body.
Scientific NameMustelaType of AnimalMammalRangeall over the world
Weasels are members of the Mustelidae family, just like otters.
They have long, slender bodies with short legs and tails.
Weasels are also excellent swimmers and have webbed feet.
One of the most notable differences between weasels and otters is their fur.
Weasels have brown or reddish-brown fur, while otters have darker fur that is usually gray or black.
Scientific NameGulo guloType of AnimalMammalRangeCanada and Alaska
The wolverine is a land-dwelling creature that is native to North America, Europe, and Asia.
Like the otter, the wolverine has a furry body, long tail, and short legs.
Wolverines are also proficient swimmers and climbers.
One of the main differences between the wolverine and otter is their size.
Wolverines are much larger than otters, weighing up to 140 pounds.
Read Also: Do Otters Live in Ponds?
Many animals look like otters and they all share some common characteristics.
They are all proficient swimmers with webbed feet and sharp claws.
They also have thick fur that helps to keep them warm in cold climates.
Otters occupy a wide variety of habitats, from forests to streams to the open ocean.
While they are typically solitary creatures, they will sometimes form small groups or families.
Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.