Print this sheet and take it to the zoo with you.
1. Look at the river otter's body. It is streamlined in order to help it move through the water easily. What shape is most like a river otter's body shape?
a cube ___ a ball___ a pyramid___ a pointed tube___
2. Name something else that travels underwater that is the same shape as a
river otter. ______________________________
3. How are the river otter's feet adapted for swimming? Check the correct answer.
___ They have long toes.
___ They are webbed.
___ They have sharp claws.
4. When some people swim, they sometimes
hold their noses to prevent water from going into their noses. The river
otter cannot hold its nose shut, but it can prevent water from going into
its nose. How does it do this? Check the right answer.
___ using nose plugs
___ jumping in feet first
___ closing the strong muscles around
their nostrils
___ never going near the water
5. Look at the river otter's head. Can
you guess how this animal is adapted for sensing its way along the river
bottom? (Hint: look at eyes, ears, facial hair)
Now draw a picture of the otter. Then
draw a line to those parts of the river otter's body that helps it:
swim
see smell
hear feel things
stay warm