All otter species make sounds and use vocal signals to communicate with each other.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

Giant otter vocalizations are the loudest and most frequent of all otter vocalizations, and they do so at a high volume. Researchers have identified nine different types of vocalizations, including shouts that signal enthusiasm and coos that suggest interactivity with others.

When agitated or when attempting to attract attention, a Cape clawless otter lets out strong, high-pitched shrieks that can be heard for miles. The Asian tiny otter possesses at least twelve unique vocal sounds that it uses to communicate with its prey. When it comes to communication among freshwater species, the scent is the most significant sense. River otter scent glands are located at the base of their tails. They spraint their spraint with the musky aroma they have deposited on it.

Spraint sites are generally equally distributed across an otter’s range, with each station being approximately Forty to Seventy meters apart. It is possible that these stations will be ten times more frequent near the shore than they will be deeper inland, where otter movements are funneled along certain pathways. Spraint is often found in obvious places, such as tree trunks, stones, footpaths, and pool margins, among other things. Otter-created signal piles are little heaps of sand,  grass, and mud that have been scratched up by their claws. They serve as visual cues to indicate the presence of an otter. 

Otters spend a significant amount of time investigating their personal wounds along with those of others.  Each otter’s distinctive scent is as individual as a fingerprint, and it may be used to identify them, as well as convey information about their age, gender, and breeding status.  The use of scent is particularly significant for delineating territorial borders.