Editing Otter (section)

== Terminology ==
An otter's den is called a holt, or couch. Male otters are called dogs or boars; females are called bitches or sows; and their offspring are called pups or cubs.<ref>{{Cite book| title=Otters: ecology, behaviour and conservation| author=Kruuk H| page=7| publisher=Oxford Biology| isbn=978-0-19-856587-1 | year=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-otter/|title= Species: Otter|author= <!--Not stated-->|publisher= The Mammal Society|access-date= 27 June 2022|archive-date= 25 May 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220525031700/https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-otter/|url-status= live}}</ref> The [[collective noun]]s for otters are bevy, family, lodge, romp (being descriptive of their often playful nature), or, when in water, raft.<ref>M & P Briggs, ''The Natural History of British Isles'', pp. 334–35{{ISBN?}}</ref><ref name="OTWO">{{cite web|url=http://www.otter-world.com/facts-about-otters/|title=Facts about otters|date=5 March 2014 |publisher=Otter World|access-date=1 January 2016|archive-date=2 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302124416/http://www.otter-world.com/facts-about-otters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[feces]] of otters are typically identified by their distinctive aroma, the smell of which has been described as ranging from freshly mown hay to putrefied fish;<ref name="btinternet">{{cite web|url=http://www.ottersite.btinternet.co.uk/spraints.htm|website=archive.today|title=Spraint Analysis|access-date=28 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908081151/http://www.ottersite.btinternet.co.uk/spraints.htm|archive-date=8 September 2012}}</ref> these are known as [[spraint]]s.<ref>{{Cite book |title=What Shat That?: A Pocket Guide to Poop Identity |author=Pagett, Matt |year=2007 |publisher=Ten Speed Press |isbn=978-1-58008-885-5}}</ref>

[[File:Otter playing - 2015 11 08.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=0|A [[sea otter]] playing in captivity.]]