Digestive System for the North American River Otter
How the North American River Otter Digests Food
The river otter's digestive system resembles that of a human containing similar organs such as a esophagus, stomach, diaphram, and more.The process of digestion begins when the river otters track their prey underwater using their vibrissae which help sense movement. They then capture the prey and kill it by using their sharp teeth and strong molars. The digestive tract itself is short in length because of the fairly simple diet of the carnivore. The food travels down the esophagus from the mouth to eventually reach the stomach. There the strong stomach acid helps to break the food down. From the stomach when processed and broken down it travels through the small intestine where all the nutrients from the consumed food is absorbed. The food now moves on to the large intestine where excess water is absorbed. The food then reaches the rectum and anus where it leaves the otter's body. Interestingly enough the otter can digest food unusually fast because of its high metabolism. That is the digestion process of the North American River Otter.
Sources
1.http://www.defenders.org/north-american-river-otter/basic-facts
2.http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/otters/diet.htm
3. http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/exploreTheAquarium/webcam-asco.aspx
1.http://www.defenders.org/north-american-river-otter/basic-facts
2.http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/otters/diet.htm
3. http://www.georgiaaquarium.org/exploreTheAquarium/webcam-asco.aspx