After his first voyage to the Americas in 1492, Christopher Columbus took sweet potatoes back home to Europe. The crop was introduced into China in the late 16th century and spread through Asia, Africa, and Latin America during the 17th and 18th centuries.
North American river otters can live up to 21 years in captivity. They normally live about 8 to 9 years in the wild. North American river otters live alone or in family groups of, usually, females and their young. They are known as playful animals, often seen sliding in mud and snow and playing in the water.orth American river otters are semi-aquatic mammals, with long, streamlined bodies, thick tapered tails, and short legs. They have wide, rounded heads, small ears, and nostrils that can be closed underwater. Their whiskers are long and thick.
River otters choose their habitat based on how much food and shelter they can find. As a result, their habitat can change depending on the season. For example, they will move from temporarily flooded marshes to cypress swamps that have permanent ponds.ince the otters keep their young on land, they need either vegetation or rock structures as shelters or dens. The Lontra Canadensis requires a large amount of space, often up to 50 miles. Development of cities, pollution, pesticides, and other man-made poisons destroys their habitat and decreases their numbers.