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Northern River Otter

Northern River Otter line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

Northern River Otter full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

If there's an animal more adorable than a river otter I have yet to see it. It had been some time since I had drawn an otter (the last being a sea otter.) I had a lot of fun drawing the otter, although I still feel very challenged by the rendering of fur. The river otter drawing is based on a photo by S. Helton.

Information about the Northern River Otter:

The Northern River Otter is a semi-aquatic mammal found in the waterways and coasts of North America. This playful animal is equally versatile on the land or in the water. The otter propels itself through the water using a very powerful tail and by bending their elongated bodies. River Otters do not hibernate but instead stay active during the winter popping in and out of holes in the ice. They are opportunistic feeders but generally feed on fish, amphibians, turtles, and crayfish. Northern River Otters can submerge and hold their breath for up to eight minutes.