river otter

American  

noun

1. a North American otter, Lutra canadensis, with brown and silver fur, native to streams and lakes in the U.S. and Canada.

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Etymology

Origin of river otter

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

One is a kind of tortoise last seen in 1906, the other is a river otter that scientists thought no longer existed in Argentina.

From NewsForKids.net • Dec. 8, 2022

But he didn’t cozy up to a river otter as a little kid.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2020

Find out about river otter spraint and the broad range of information found within, plus see a video of a poop dance, at infinitespider.com/river-otter-poop-fecal-facts.

From Washington Post • Mar. 17, 2020

They can take home bobcat, gray fox and red fox, marten, muskrat, mink, raccoon, river otter and beaver, but only when such animals are in season.

From Washington Times • Nov. 17, 2016

This has reference only to the river otter, Lutra      Canadensis.

From Voyages of Samuel De Champlain — Volume 01 by Otis, Charles P. (Charles Pomeroy)