Site of the Week
Otternet http://www.otternet.com/
The welcoming page says it all: ‘Otternet - your source for fun, facts and faces.’ Where the faces come in is not immediately clear, and it’s possible to misread the last word when you see it the first time, but apart from that, Otternet is indeed the place to be.
You’re probably familiar with the Eurasian otter, and perhaps with the sea otter - but you might be surprised to learn that there are in fact 13 species of otter in the world. Don’t worry, though - this site has information, pictures, sound and movies galore, so you’ll soon know all there is to know about them.
Each species has a separate section with a comprehensive factfile and photo gallery, and - here’s where the faces come in - a diagram to help with identification should you be lucky enough to spot an otter. The conservation section has information on the threats facing otters, as well as advice about environmental issues in general.
The kids section is a good one - it features the obligatory wordsearch, but also what has to be one of the most surreal web games in Internet history, ‘Madlibs.’ If you have the faintest idea what this is all about, please let us know. ‘Otterpong’ is another game, and don’t worry, it’s not based around smelling otters. You’ll also find two otter quizzes, one more challenging than the other.
The FAQ (frequently asked questions) section has a few extra details, and that’s still not enough, the huge links section will take you on to otter conservation organisations and species information from around the world.
Info-content ** Readability *** Appearance *** User friendliness ** Kids *** Plug-ins QuickTime, Shockwave