>>2512
I will confess, I don’t know this strictly about otter brains. Most of what I said was an extrapolation from knowledge about the structure of how brains work and what the different regions do. I was on track to become a neurosurgeon for some time, but I dropped out of med school before it actually happened, so I’m not overly qualified, but I have some basic understanding of the brain as an organ, and so I just applied that knowledge to an image of an otter brain that I found and information about otter senses that I found online. So, you know, don’t take my word as gospel or anything, it’s more my best guess as to why otter heads are the way that they are.

>>2516
Oh, that's still a nice theory though, and it does make sense. Maybe there's another explanation though.
You were studying to become a neurosurgeon? That's really cool, how's life been going since you dropped out? I hope you found your calling.

>>2518
I'm glad you think it's reasonable, it's the best explanation that I could come up with for why there'd be a ridge like that in that specific area. And technically, I wasn't studying to be a neurosurgeon, that's just the specialization that I was looking at before I dropped out of med school. But that's neither here nor there, I suppose. Life's been fine since then though, I'm looking at becoming a teacher of some sort, probably teaching English if I can do what I want.

Other carnivores have the same thing going on, I noticed
Dogs have it too, bears have it, raccoons have it, cats maybe to a lesser extent.

>>2901
Now I'd really like to know what's going on. Maybe this is just how the frontal/parietal bone grows in carnivores?

Here's a video of her, she was a big clapper.

RIP Betty
Hope they can find out what happened

Unfortunately, sometimes otters just pass. It happens to people too; I had a friend who died at 18 of an diagnosed heart condition with no symptoms at all, she just didn't wake up one day. I do hope it's something like that rather than foul play, it takes a special kind of mean to be mean to an otter.

>>2844
That's really sad, hope you got through that alright
When your time's up there doesn't need to be a rational cause I suppose

There don't seem to be any news... But they have a four month old sea otter pup they recently rescued, still nameless

alright

>>2842
That's just how those cheeky otters are, they can sense when someone's after them. Animals have all kinds of senses that science can't explain, they often seemingly know things they shouldn't.

>>2842 I still hope you'll get to see them btw

>>2842
I had a thought. How about we all go to Scotland to watch otters together?
Something like this https://www.otter.org/Public/Events_OtterWatchingDays.aspx seems like a great meetup occasion to me.

>>2858
That sounds pretty cool
The tick warning has me spooked though. Forgot how tick and midge ridden Scotland is

Something for UK otter friends
https://www.mammal.org.uk/national-otter-survey/

She smashes sea shells by the sea shore.

>>32
Living a better life than most people.

Nighttime sea otter

\o/

>>28
No, when people saw weasels in the sea they just though FUR, and pretty soon sea weasels were hunted to extinction.

>>2823 Isn't this world the world of otters? I mean there are lots of otters in it

>>2831
I mean a world comprised entirely of otters, and their favorite snacks.

>>2832
Well that would just be a paradise! But if I were to visit such a world, I'd be afraid to become the snack

>>2833
If I were to visit such a world I'd hope to be an otter and not a snack.

>>2823
Those ottes in Finding Dory were cute but I was a little disappointed they used generic rodent chirp sounds instead of actual sea otter sounds.

>>2647 I couldn't imagine a better place to sleep

>>2468 wish I could experience such comfyness

>>2690
Otters are already comfy, but then their comfiness is multiplied by the presence of other otters

>>2827
This creates a feedback loop of comfiness where each otter makes the other otter even more comfy, thus resulting in perfect otter sleeps

here's a pic of the small clawed otters at Denver Zoo demonstrating this phenomenon

>>2829 Of course otters putting their heads on each other is also a sign of affection, which is cute.

It's a thing of beauty, nature is like a puzzle, every piece fits perfectly

One of the key things that I just recently realized is how terrestrial predators only need to move in a two dimensional space, whereas an otter hunting a fish has to move in a three dimensional body. There's a whole new dimension introduced to the game. Diving takes a lot of practice and skill in itself, but then imagine also keeping track of a fast moving fish that's doing its best to get away from you. AND to top it off being fast and nimble enough to catch it, all while you're a land animal who hated the water before being taught to swim. Otters really are the kings of the water and the kings of hunting.

>>2630 oh dang, I should get tested

>>1081

>Otters just want to grab everything.

Everything.

>>145 It happened again!

>>139

>>2824
This is us

>>2661
>>2652
These are powerful lessons indeed. But the question remains, what is the water? And how do I find it?

>>2662
I'm thinking "the water" can be literally just the water (swimming is fun! and definitely makes you more ottery) and also something unique to each person. Note how when you get in the water, you go through your own reflection. So what the water is depends on you.
I'm not sure about examples, and I can't even think of what my own personal "water" would be, so I'm sorry if this is vague, but this is the best I can explain it

>>2662
I think the water is our second nature. It isn't our home, otter holts are on land after all, so it isn't what comes most naturally to us. But being in the water is also something otters are very good at, their fur is magic at keeping them dry and they're great swimmers, but they still need to breathe air. Otters also seem to play the most when they are in the water, so getting in the water should either be a precursor to something enjoyable or be enjoyable itself.
All this is to say that I think getting in the water is something you enjoy doing, that you are good at doing, but is also something you weren't very good at when you started, you had to learn it. It could be a game, or a sport, or swimming, or art, or debate! If you haven't found such a thing yet, then you gotta go on some adventures to find your water. Try lots of things, see what sparks joy for you.
I would also say that otters are almost uniquely playful. So in addition to getting into the water, I think that finding the fun is an important otter trait to emulate. Otters hunt in the water, they work there, but that certainly doesn't stop them from playing around. I need to work on this myself, I have to channel my inner otter and find ways to play around and find some fun even when it doesn't seem like there's any to be had.

>>2670 Agree with everything you said. I think you got the whole point of "get in the water" really well. And the fun is important too. Where we may see a muddy riverbank, the otter sees a fun sliding opportunity. Otters are super curious animals, whenever the otter sees something new, he's sure to try and play with it. So being present in the moment, enjoying the little things are what matter.

As an otter you're the apex predator, the king of your realm. All the fish, crabs, and other small animals fear you. But you don't really care, you're just gonna take it easy and have fun. A lot of people try really hard to become successful, and when they do, it completely changes them. They become boastful and arrogant and desire ever more instead of reaching contentment. Otters aren't like that, even though they are powerful predators they have no showiness about them and just enjoy their life the way it is. Being humble and appreciating what you have is one of the important otter lessons I would think.

>>1209
Of course! Everyone knows getting muddy is a cleansing spa treatment. Otter spa is always enjoyable.

>>1213

>Otter spa

Is that a spa for otters, or a spa with otters?

>>1348
A spa of otters, by otters, for otters.

>>1349
The best kind.

>>1200
>>1202
>>1203
Glad we get to see different angles of what happens when an otter sticks his nose in a puddle of mud

I like trout, salmon and eel a lot. Crab and shrimp are also tasty.

>>1985 I think stoats and weasels and such are more aggressive chicken chokers than otters are, but I'm sure otters can do it too if they need to

Eating fish is very unhealthy for the fish.

>>2507
But fish are tasty!

>>2798
They wish they weren't, but they are.

Depends on what they're doing... I hope they don't think too much, too many thoughts are stressful.

I think otters think about having fun, eatin clams, maybe how neat their favorite rock is. I wonder if they think about how neat they are?

>>2787 Maybe they know how amazing they are, or maybe they don't? I just hope otters feel good about being otters.

>>2789
They have the piece of mind knowing they are doing the best otting they can.

Is this a fight or a hug?

>>2436 either a fight or very fierce love.

>>2442
Otters love hard and fight hard

>>2453 Passionate otters!

>>1783
They definitely do it for fun, playfighting is simply one of otter's many sports.

>>2666
always good to see otters adjusting to ottering. It isn't always easy to be an otter, but looks like this little one is definitely getting the hang of it!

>>2754 Where's that?

>>2754
>>2755
looks like one of those otter cafes, evil places.

The Otter has been reavealed to me in a life changing symbolic vision.
Since then my interest in all things otter has been growing rapidly and deeply

I should build shrines for the otter, find the otthers

Wow that's fascinating, please tell more about your vision? I wanna know what kind of ottery dreams people are given.

>>2731 for >>2730

>>2731
It's spirit animal business I don't have to explain

Guess I'll hang around and see if I'm comfy enough to post the stories and analysis one day

>>2738
You certainly don't have to explain, but it sounds interesting and I know that I, for one, would love to hear about it all

Just got word they've decided on a logo, so there'll be no need for these. I'll post them anyway just because I like them.

>>2295

>>2296 Similar logo to this one >>2295 but more abstract and geometric, formed by the letters I O C. Typeface: Futura.

Official announcement and tentative program are out

>>2739 A lot of otter topics to be covered

Love you too!

Wish more otter lovers could find their way here. I've written up a little piece about Otterchat for IUCN news, but I don't know if it's good or not. What do you guys think, would you change anything?

>>2723
I think it's good to go! Hopefully it'll attract some new otternons to join this great community!

>>2724 I hope so too, I'll probably go ahead and submit it around the weekend.

Thanks for sharing this! There's a lot to know about these families, I think their stories are fascinating (and often very dramatic). There are several of these families by the way, each with its own unique backstory.

Here's a map of all the different families' territories as of 2020

Man, this kind of stuff is cool. Nature really is amazing, and otters are the most amazing part of it.

>>2654
I remember watching something about Singapore's attempts to encourage otters to move in, and I'm glad to see it seems to be successful. Good for people, good for otters.

>>2675
yes ;-;

>>2677
For future reference, in case you didn't know, you have to either enter the thread by hitting the reply button or by clicking the numbers of the post to enter the reply posting mode

>>2678
I know, I couldn't read the verification string so I tried to reload the page to get a new one but that didn't work and when I relaunched my browser I forgot to click back into the thread

>>2682
Sorry for the trouble :/ The captcha system is pretty basic, I just changed so it gives you a new string if you type it in wrong. Also is it easy enough to read? Because I can make it bigger if not.

>>2685
No trouble, it's definitely a me problem so no need to change anything of my accord! It's already far more visible than the ones on Anon Cafe which I regularly have to reload to get one that is legible for me. The generation of a new string after failure is a nice touch though, makes it a bit easier if you get a difficult to read captcha. Thanks Ottmin!

Kind of. I used to have a picture of a grumpy looking wet otter standing and looking at the camera. Every time I saw it I would involuntary think of him saying "that's MR. Otter to you!"

Otters are candy for the eyes

>>2351
Sounds like a funny otter picture, can you post it?

I like saying otter
otter

>>2341 I hope you see otters soon

>>2354

>Otters are candy for the eyes

Except otters are good for you.

I feel like, with how modern life is going, conservation is always going to be a necessary thing. Unfortunately, I don't think that modern industry and existence will allow otters, or most animals for that matter, to return to their previous existences, and conservation is going to need to exist to protect otters from evil men in top hats

>>2517
Yep. Otters are still being poisoned to this day. As they once were almost driven to extinction by pesticides, now rodenticides in the water are literally causing otters to bleed to death internally.
https://archive.ph/9QsMG

The political and legislative efforts to combat pollution have evidently only succeeded in somewhat mitigating and reducing the effects, and never to address the cause. Reform can never be a solution to the suffering industrial society has imposed on the planet. It has pumped the water, ground and air full of chemicals, metals, plastics, radiation, carcinogens, genetic manipulation, and every dark and wicked concoction thought up in the depths of the laboratories that serve the vain economic interests of man. We don't even realize the full extent of the consequences this system is having yet. Plants and animals are now feeling the full force of it, but in the end it will end up in our food, our own bodies. Yes, humans have plastic in our blood now too.
The law doesn't make a difference, notice how the deadly poisoning of the earth has not stopped, it only continues in countries where regulation isn't as strict. Just look up where the most polluted rivers are today. Where regulation is stricter it finds ever new ways to manifest itself that can only be retroactively addressed when the damage is already done.
Is there any escape? Is there even any way that the next 100 years can pass by without worldwide catastrophe the extent of which we have never imagined?

People often lament how much better the internet was back then, but looking at that I'm glad we have Otterchat now

>>2626 And thankfully so!

Did Angela ever get her club off the ground, I wonder? I'd love to join an otter club.

>>2604
Fascinating little wild encounter. This is exactly the kind of otter content I'm after.

>>2639 Maybe we should start a club.

Male otters have moustaches. Every time I learn something new about otters they just keep getting better.

Love the way otter fur looks

I tried something else. How's this?

>>2598
The inline style makes it look more like a banner than a logo, but it does look good.

>>2589
Yes! it looks sharper, if that makes sense. More defined.

I like this.

I made a banner with that Giant Otter video anon posted here a while ago.

>>2600
I don't know where to put the otter relative to the text, but having an outline around the speech bubble also looks quite alright in my opinion.