“What are they related to?” This is probably one of the most common questions heard in Zoos about almost any animal. Below you will find a summary of the taxonomic classification of otters, photos of otter relatives, and a list of all thirteen species of otters!
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Family: Mustelidae -Largest family in the order Carnivora
- Mustelidae also includes: Click through slideshow below to see common mustelids
- Subfamily: Lutrinae
- Genus: 6 separate otter genera
- Species:13 species of otter
- North American Species
- North American River Otter*
- Sea Otter*
- South American Species
- Giant Otter*
- Neotropical Otter
- Marine Otter
- Southern River Otter
- African Species
- Spotted Necked Otter*
- Cape (African) Clawless Otter*
- Congo Clawless Otter
- Eurasian Species
- Asian Small Clawed Otter*
- Eurasian Otter
- Hairy Nose Otter
- Smooth Coated Otter
* Denotes otters you can see in an AZA Zoo or Aquarium
