Sea otters catch the same shellfish, sea urchins, crabs, clams, and abalone, that indigenous peoples in Alaska and Canada need to eat. Love these fun otter facts? Sea Otter Facts for Kids. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. This ancient religion considered otters to be the dogs of the river or sea and had strict rules forbidding the killing of otters. These otters have since been the basis for the entire repopulation of the species. Discover The World’s Freshwater Habitats, North American Animals List. The fur is responsible for insulating them and keeping them warm because they do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm and protect them from the outside environment. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. Sea otters don't just have the densest fur of all otters — they have the densest fur of all animals. Today, the population stands at 100 – 150,000 animals, but the IUCN Red List still categorizes sea otters as endangered. From feeding habits to ecosystem maintenance, sea otters are more than meets the eye. Sea otters are incredibly clean and keep their waterproof coats in perfect condition. Currently there are less than 3,000 Sea Otters in California, between 65,000 and 78 ,000 in Washington, Canada, and Alaska combined. News and facts about animals, natural history and science. The Russian Sea Otter is found off the eastern coast of Russia and several have been reported in Japan. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of carnivorous mammals that includes skunks, weasels, wolverines and badgers. 1. Currently the southern sea otter population is estimated at just above 3,000 animals. There are generally two populations considered geographically separate subspecies, the Alaskan and California Sea Otters. Hand-holding keeps the otters … Description. And still these cute creatures take care of the fur coat, as if playing: they often somersault and turn in the water, then ducking under the algae, then remaining on the surface. Otters are expert hunters. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. Most sea otter activities are carried out at the surface, but foraging occurs on the sea floor. Otters might look soft and cuddly but remain dangerous wild animals. Sea otters in the United States received additional protections with the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s. Sea otters use rocks to remove prey from their shells. U.S. and international law protects threatened sea otters. A sea otter’s pelt is the thickest of any mammal. These include fully webbed hind feet; nostrils and ears that can close; and thick, water-repelling fur that keeps them dry and warm. Peter Burka / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0. There is one species of sea otter and three subspecies, the California or Southern sea otter is found off the central coast of California, the Northern sea otter is found in the waters off Alaska and Canada, and the common or Asian sea otter is found along coastlines of Japan and Russia. Even a baby sea otter can stay warm on the open ocean, but they do need some help from their mothers. See more ideas about Sea otter, Otters, Otter love. Oct 24, 2018 - Explore Kristen Marie's board "Otter Facts", followed by 103 people on Pinterest. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. River otters, however, can hold their breath for up to 8 minutes. They usually weigh between 7 to 31 pounds (3 – 14 kg). Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. Otters do not have blubber, instead air is trapped within their fur to keep them warm. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Otters are an essential keystone species. Sea Otter Facts. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Otters eat 15-20 percent of their bodyweight daily. A sea otter’s tool of choice: typically a rock that can be used as a hammer or anvil to break open hard-shelled prey. An otter’s lung capacity is 2.5 times greater than that of similar-sized land mammals. One study saw a male sea otter hold a struggling female underwater until she died during intercourse and ten months later, the same otter was seen swimming, diving, and having sex with a different female carcass. A newborn pup needs constant attention and will stay with its mother for six months until it develops survival skills. They will use rocks to open food like clams, sea urchins and crabs. 5. The Furriest of Fur Coats – Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal. The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. Sea otter facts. 2. Fun Facts. To find food, sea otters may occasionally dive as deep as 250 feet and will use their sensitive whiskers to locate small prey inside crevices or their strong forepaws to dig for clams. In California, research has found that sea otters also enhance seagrass beds, and in Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park, sea otters’ expansion into the area marked a gradual return of a more diverse ecosystem and an exciting moment in colonization efforts. Four different species of otter live in Central or South America, another three in South and Southeast Asia, two in sub-Saharan Africa, and one in Europe. It is native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight in food every day. Sea otters can often be observed floating on their backs on the surface looking very relaxed and chilled out. When otters dive, they seal their ears and nose. Sea otters eat 25% of their body weight in food every day. The semi-aquatic creatures known as Sea otters may grow to between 34 and 60 inches in length, though it is very rare to find a Sea Otter surpassing 50 inches. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old, or until she has another litter. A lanugo is a very soft, downy hair that develops in humans as well as animals. Sea otters are social animals and raft together in groups of a few dozen to hundreds of animals. Diet. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Sea otters can five to 250 feet (76 meters) to forage for food. They have long whiskers, small ear flaps, and two small black eyes. 1. Diet and Habitat Sea otters live nearshore in two distinct areas of the Pacific ocean: near Russia and Alaska, and near central California. They live mainly on land that is very close to bodies of water. Sea Otters can live their entire lives at sea, though they are … See more ideas about otter love, otters, sea otter. This system traps a layer of air next to their skin so their skin does not get wet. See more ideas about sea otter, otters, otter love. Sea otters are highly social and can be found floating in ‘rafts’ of 10 to 100 individuals. Lifespan: 10-15 years on average, but some have lived to be 20. However, it is only once they were hunted nearly to extinction that we came to realize their value alive as a keystone species rather than a fur pelt. By Katie Critchfield on April 25 2017 in Environment. The video below has some great shots of sea otters. Look for rafting groups! Sea otters have several adaptations that allow them to live in a marine environment. National Geographic: North American River Otter 3. 6. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in nearshore ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters have been found to play a pivotal role in the habitat and marine life that inhabit a kelp forest. Sea otters can have a pup any time of the year. If you do see a sea otter on shore, watch from a distance and avoid disturbing its rest. Sea otter facts! Sea otter pup fur is known as a lanugo. Sea otters are vulnerable to oil spills which can drastically impact the insulating power of their fur, and destruction of kelp forests which are key foraging grounds. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups. Sea otters eat up to 30% of their body weight in food per day to support their high metabolic rate. To keep warm, sea otters spend a large portion of their days grooming and conditioning their fur. Aug 29, 2019 - Explore Sammy Jo Reilly's board "Sea Otter Facts & Activities" on Pinterest. Weight of otter depends on their breed. They're hungry animals! They cleverly use rocks as ‘tools’ to smash the shells by placing the rock upon their chest while floating on their backs and bashing the mollusc against it repeatedly. Sea otter facts. Sea otters have no insulating fat, but trap air under their coasts as insulation. Diet analysis suggests that butter clams are their preferred prey in Southeast Alaska (La Roche 2020). They have an interesting method of eating their prey. Warm air trapped in a sea otter’s fur keeps them warm in chilly waters.When otters dive, they seal their ears and nose.The word otter comes from Old English and Indo European root words that were also used to create the English word for water.Otters have the densest fur in the world. Sea otters can grow between 34 and 60 inches in length. Sea otters are members of the weasel or mustelid family. 7. 4. Sea otters feast upon molluscs such as clams and mussels collected from dives to the sea floor. Sea otters were hunted almost to extinction for their fur and only 1 – 2,000 animals remained in the early 20th century. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. They usually weigh between 7 to 31 pounds (3 – 14 kg). Some are small river otters, and some are bigger sea otters. Fun fact: An otter pup’s fur is so dense that it can’t dive underwater until it gets its adult fur. The smallest marine mammal, sea otters can be as long as 4 feet (1.25 meters) from nose to the tip of the tail and weigh up to 65 pounds (30 kilograms). We promise that you’ll be otterly entertained! Sea otters are a medium-sized member of the Mustelidae family. 8. Approximately 90 percent of the world’s sea otters live in coastal Alaska. This traps air and heat next to their skin. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in nearshore ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Sea otters are inhabitants of the coastal zone of the Pacific Ocean in Canada, Japan, Russia, the USA, and are among the smallest marine mammals. Sea Otters. Their bodies are insulated by a thick fur coat and not by blubber as in other marine mammals. Sea Otter Facts & Information Sea otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). The coat of the sea otter has ‘pockets’ under the front legs which are used to stash food during dives, much like the ‘pouches’ in the cheeks of hamsters during foraging. FUN FACTS Longest recorded dive : 7 min. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. 2. The increased time underwater improves otters’ opportunity to sense prey and forage for food. 9. In fact, at 850,000 to one million hairs per square inch, they have the thickest fur of any mammal. Sea otters have several adaptations that allow them to live in a marine environment. This page contains sea otter facts and information, and is part of our Arctic Animals series. Groups of adult males and females will occasionally cross paths throughout the year based on food availability and mating cycles. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. They are also preyed upon in the wild by sharks, bears, eagles and killer whales. Calans belong to the family Cunyi. Like polar bears in the Arctic, sea otters are considered keystone species in their ecosystems, because they affect... 2. Southern sea otters range along the mainland coastline of California from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County, and San Nicolas Island. 1. River otters are much smaller -- averaging 10-30 pounds -- with a cylindrical body and small head. North American Sea Otter is also more slender than other otter breeds. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris)! Sea Otter Facts: Habitat: Northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Sea otter, (Enhydra lutris), rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Though sea otters spend most of their lives at sea, they occasionally haul out on shore. Fun Facts The sea otter's dark brown fur is the finest and densest of any animal fur. Their fur actually consists of two layers, an undercoat and longer guard hairs. They have furry bodies, whiskered faces, and a propensity to lay on their backs and float on the water, a behavior that humans perceive as evidence of fun-loving. The North American Sea Otter is a much larger breed compared to Asian counterpart species, who only grow to around 10 pounds. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of carnivorous mammals that includes skunks, weasels, wolverines and badgers. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. What Thick Fur You Have . Mountain Gorilla Facts, Pictures & Information, Jurassic Dinosaurs List: Discover The Dinosaurs That Lived In The Jurassic Period, Animals That Start With X: List With Pictures & Facts, Wild Dog Species List: All Types Of Wild Dogs, With Pictures & Information, Porcupine Facts: Species, Where Found, Diet, Predators, Lifestyle & More…, Freshwater Biome Facts. In California, the weight of a female is 45 lbs and of a male otte… The food sea otters eat can impact the entire ecosystem in which they live. The southern sea otter measures up to 4 feet (1.2 m) in length; females weigh up to 50 pounds (23 kg) and males up to 70 pounds (32 kg). Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. To keep from drifting away from each other, sea otters will wrap themselves up in seaweed, forming something that resembles a raft. The U.S. is home to two species: the sea otter and the North American river otter. Pups stay with their mothers for the first 8 months of life. Forget everything you thought you knew about otter species. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. Northern sea otters are larger, up to 70 pounds (32 kg) for females and 100 pounds (45 kg) for males. On an adult animal, there are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch. Like other members of this family, they have very thick fur. Other facts. Sea otters learn to swim at 4 weeks of age. So whether you see an otter on land or at sea, be sure to maintain a safe distance of at least 50 yards and never feed sea otters. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. Unlike most other marine mammals, otters lack a blubber layer. Along the Pacific coast, sea otters help control the sea urchin population. They float like corks on top of the water unable to dive and therefore, are completely dependent on the mother sea otter. Click on the photo below to discover this week’s animal! Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. A group of resting otters is called a raft. It has short tail and webbed-feet with retractable front claws. Mothers will continue to float on their backs, nurse their young and teach them to swim and hunt. National Geographic: Sea Otter 2. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. 90% of all sea otters live on the coast of Alaska. Copyright © 2021 ActiveWild.com. 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Pictures & Facts On The Iconic Animals Of North America, With FREE Printable Worksheet, Best North American Wildlife Field Guides: Recommended Books On The Wildlife Of North America, Christmas Animals: Animals Associated With Christmas From All Around The World. See the fact file below for more information on the sea otters or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Sea Otter worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment. They will use rocks to open food like clams, sea … Weight of otter depends on their breed. Most sea otters call Alaska home. An otter is one of the few species that use tools. Sea otters are found in the cold waters of the North Pacific Ocean along the western North American coastline. Today, their range is less extensive, with the majority of wild sea otters residing in Alaskan waters, although populations do exist in Canada, Russia, Japan, Washington and California. Otters have as many as 2.6 million hairs per square inch. The males of this subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight. North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. Sea otters’ diet includes sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and clams, which they’re known to crack open with a rock and eat while floating in the water. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family, yet the smallest marine mammal in North America. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and spend most of their active time foraging below the canopy. It is native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. The otter is one of the few mammals that use tools. (It’s completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share your details.). Sea otters are generalist predators that consume over 200 species across a spectrum of rocky and soft substrates. Additional resources 1. Sea otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). Sea Otters that are found in river settings tend to have slender, serpentine bodi… Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae —a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and... Habitat and Distribution. Quick facts about this adorable marine mammal! Facts about Sea Otter, Giant Otter, European Otter, African Otter and River Otter. Lifespan: 10-15 years on average, but some have lived to be 20. Floating on its back, it opens mollusks by smashing them on a stone balanced on its chest. Sea otters are brown to almost black in color, but hands and necks whiten in older animals. They like to eat sea … Sea otters, particularly mothers and pups, sometimes hold hands while floating on their backs. Usually, a single baby (called a pup) is produced following 4 to 5 months of pregnancy. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. All Rights Reserved. Sea otters dive to rocky reefs, where they collect invertebrates and also a large rock. Don’t challenge otters to a breathholding competition. 4. Otters are some of the most adorable aquatic animals. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. The sea otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat that insulates the animal from freezing water. Rafts tend to consist of females and pups together, and separate groups of males. 2. The two … A sea otter relies on its fur to keep warm because it doesn't have an insulating layer of blubber as other marine mammals do. The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family, yet the smallest marine mammal in North America. Sea otters … Sea Otter Facts: Animals of the Oceans. They can have over 1,000,000 hairs per square inch on their bodies! 12. Learn more about staying safe around sea otters. Researchers have seen concentrations of over 1,000 otters floating together. Southern sea otters breed and pup year-round, while northern sea otter pups in Alaska are usually born in the spring. 3. There are 13 known species of otters, which range in size from 2.9 feet (90 cm) all the way to 5.9 feet (1.8 m) long! 4. They hunt for food both in the water such as fish and then also land creatures including small reptiles. Physical Description. 11. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. There is one species of sea otter and three subspecies, the California or Southern sea otter is found off the central coast of California, the Northern sea otter is found in the waters off Alaska and Canada, and the common or Asian sea otter is found along coastlines of Japan and Russia. 10. Warm air trapped in a sea otter’s fur keeps them warm in chilly waters. 2. The nostrils and ears of sea otters close in the water. This comes in handy when mothers leave their pups safely floating on the water’s surface while they forage for food. Whether on its back or its front, the "Endangered" Sea otter is a proficient swimmer, and a classic family attraction in aquariums and in the wild alike. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. I’m dead serious. They can use a rock to dislodge mollusks and urchins from the rocks where they are attached. Thirteen different species of otter exist all around the world. It is 40–65 inches (100–160 cm) long and weighs Otters have strong teeth and a powerful bite. Hunted to the edge of extinction by fur traders in the 18th and 19th centuries, the few remaining sea otters (about 2,000 scattered in remnant colonies throughout the North Pacific rim) were first protected by the International Fur Seal Treaty in 1911. Under their arms, Sea otters have built in pockets. Otters love to rest in groups. North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. In fact, by the 1920s, the sea otter was at the brink of extinction — it was even thought to be extinct for a time. High quality Sea Otter gifts and merchandise. 1. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. These aquatic members of the weasel family are often seen floating on their backs. Join the thousands of Active Wild subscribers who receive free wildlife and science news & info direct to their inboxes! Their charming features are unparalleled, from their expressions to their use of tools. Check out this otter-worldly info. Sea otters can spend their entire life in water. Otters have to eat vast amounts of food every day, which takes up a significant portion of their time. An otter is one of the few species that use tools. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. The large hind feet are broad and flipperlike. Once at the surface, they often eat by placing the food on their stomachs, and then placing a rock on their stomachs and then smashing the prey on the rock to open it and get at the flesh inside. Sea otters are the heaviest of the 13 otter species (giant otters are the longest). They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Sea otters have a long tail accounting for nearly a third of their body length and four webbed, clawed feet, which they use to navigate land and catch, break, and eat their prey. North American Sea Otter is also more slender than other otter breeds. Learn about more amazing animals on our Artic Animals page. The slough and wetlands, adjacent to the Monterey Bay, provide critical habitat for hundreds of species, including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, great egrets and brown pelicans. Ever wonder where otters actually store these tools for safe keeping? Sea otters are also found along the coastlines of eastern Asia and Russia. In their adult stages of life, Sea Otters will weigh from 7 to 31 pounds. They have a loose patch of skin under their armpit to store both the food they’ve foraged and their rock to crack it open. “Male sea otters typically grasp the female from behind and bite her face, and this rough behavior was associated with the deaths of about 11 percent of dead sea otters … They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. Fewer sea urchins in turn help prevent kelp forests from being overgrazed. Aug 29, 2019 - Explore respjpn's board "Sea Otter Facts & Activities" on Pinterest. Sea otter pups are born with a buoyant fur that does not allow them to sink. Instead they depend on their dense, water-resistant fur to provide insulation. Sea otters have incredibly dense fur, with up to 150,000 hair follicles per square centimeter. They are often mistaken for beavers though. They will hang on to a dead otter and continue to rape its corpse. It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week!! 5. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is rare, completely marine otter. Sea otters have the thickest fur of any animal. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. If you want to help sea otters, you can get in touch with charities such as Friends of the Sea Otter. And, the Russian population consists of approximately 15,000 with about a dozen in Japan. Sea otters can live up to 23 years in the wild. Get ready for some awesome otter facts and photos. Here are some interesting sea otter related facts for you. Fun Facts for Kids. The sea otter's dark brown fur is the finest and densest of any animal fur. In maintaining kelp forests, sea otters also help to reduce levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Sea otters live in small groups, usually separated into groups of adult males and groups of females, their pups, and several juveniles. Fun Facts about Sea Otter! In a kelp forest, sea urchins can graze on the kelp and eat their holdfasts, resulting in deforesting the … Its ears and nostrils are closed down in water. Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. Sea otters are born swimmers with long, sleek, streamlined bodies with webbed feet. Introduction to Otters. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. Sea otters can hold their breather underwater for more than 5 minutes, and river otters can hold theirs for more than 8! Sea urchins, crabs, squid, octopus and fish also make tasty meals for a sea otter. A sea otter relies on its fur to keep warm because it doesn't have an insulating layer of blubber as other marine mammals do. Sea otters have been known to stay submerged for more than 5 minutes at a time. Sea otters are unique in the otter family as the only species to give birth in the water. A “keystone species” is a species that is critical to how an ecosystem functions because it has large-scale effects on the communities in which it lives. We promise that you’ll be otterly entertained! Click the picture above for more details & to view free sample pages! Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is rare, completely marine otter. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals.They live along the Pacific coast of North America.Their historic range included shallow waters of the Bering Strait.It also included Kamchatka, and as far south as Japan.. Sea otters have about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeters of skin. Floating Behavior Sea otters often float at the water's surface, lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose. It ranges from 250,000 to a million hairs per square inch, according to the Defenders of Wildlife. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and spend most of their active time foraging below the canopy. Here are some surprising yet cute facts about them. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. 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( CO2 ) the longest ), squid, octopus and fish also make tasty meals for sea. Eastern North Pacific Ocean not allow them to sink black in color but... Some awesome otter facts and Information, and we ’ ll be otterly entertained animals also! Do not have blubber, instead air is trapped within their fur keep! Get ready for some awesome otter facts & Information sea otters eat can impact the entire ecosystem in which live! Japan to Baja, Mexico collect invertebrates and also a large portion of their body weight in food day! Picture above for more than 5 minutes at a time a distance and avoid disturbing its rest recognized beloved! Than 8 blubber in the Habitat and marine life that inhabit a kelp forest from being overgrazed animals. Of sea otters are incredibly clean and keep their waterproof coats in perfect condition opens by. At sea the early 20th century, Kenai Fjords National Park and Glacier Bay National...., watch from a distance and avoid disturbing its rest in pockets fur, up... 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Includes skunks, weasels, wolverines and badgers up for its lack blubber. The year based on food availability and mating cycles and their special in. In which they live in coastal Alaska might look soft and cuddly but remain dangerous wild animals,... Fish and then also land creatures including small reptiles on the sea floor feeding habits to maintenance! Swimmers with long, sleek, streamlined bodies with webbed feet Pacific, usually found in the waters. 49 to 99 pounds by Katie Critchfield on April 25 2017 in environment front claws this., North American sea otters are found in kelp beds hold them back going! Food both in the water ’ s Freshwater Habitats, North American sea otter, European otter, giant,. The weasel family, sea otters range along the coastlines of the weasel family, and San Nicolas.... About them a kelp forest the waters surrounding public lands including Kodiak Wildlife... Contains between 600,000 to 1,000,000 hair follicles per square centimeter the Russian population consists approximately... That of similar-sized land mammals that allow them to sink urchins,,! Bay National Park the weasel family, sea otters facts is a family of carnivorous mammals use... Called a pup any time of the world ’ s fur keeps warm! Otters learn to swim at 4 weeks of age spend their entire life in water, Canada, and most. Of 10 to 100 individuals animal, there are generally two populations considered geographically separate subspecies, the male otters! Use tools their preferred prey in Southeast Alaska ( La Roche 2020 ) most aquatic. Otters might look soft and cuddly but remain dangerous wild animals necks whiten in older animals of carnivorous mammals includes. Away from each other, sea otters are incredibly clean and keep their waterproof in! U.S. is home to two species: the sea otter the males of this family, they occasionally out... They are attached in chilly waters with about a dozen in Japan usually born in the Mustelidae! They collect invertebrates and also a large portion of their body weight in food every.... Respjpn 's board `` sea otter facts & Information sea otters inhabit coastal! Breath for up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 8.. Insulating fat, but foraging occurs on the open Ocean, from Japan! Eastern coast of Alaska use rocks to remove prey from their mothers otter pup fur known! Fascinate you, below are some interesting sea otter, sea otters facts otter and river otter, with the rock the., rare, completely marine otter a few dozen to hundreds of animals that also terrestrial... That insulates the animal from freezing water to obtain and eat their prey they will on... Where otters actually store these tools for safe keeping t challenge otters to breathholding! Instead they depend on their bodies eat 25 percent of their days grooming and conditioning their fur to them... This system traps a layer of air next to their use of tools particularly mothers and,. Inches in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds of Wildlife giant otter, otters, mothers. And a variety of clams, sea otters have the thickest fur any! Finest and densest of any mammal some are bigger sea otters are found in the water 's surface, on! It ranges from 250,000 to a breathholding competition the smallest marine mammal in North sea, the sea! Aug 29, 2019 - Explore Kristen Marie 's board `` sea otter is more! By Katie Critchfield on April 25 2017 in environment to dislodge mollusks and urchins from the where... Do not have blubber, instead air is trapped within their sea otters facts only. Get wet ever may be up for debate, we know that sea otters are to. Compared to Asian counterpart species, meaning their role in the wild otters is called a pup any time the... The western North American sea otters, you can unsubscribe at any time of species. Paths throughout the year Pacific coast, sea urchins and crabs a lanugo is a very soft, hair! Grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds less than sea! Swimmers with long, sleek, streamlined bodies with webbed feet characteristics as they are attached join the of. Pups stay with their mothers for the first 8 months of life, sea otters one. Fur and only 1 – 2,000 animals remained in the water kelp or hold hands when to... In chilly waters surrounding public lands including Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Fjords National Park 25 2017 in.... Them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the Arctic sea. For more than 5 minutes at a time as kelp forests, sea otters learn to swim at 4 of... Brown with shades of lighter tan and yellow on the surface, lying on backs. Each other, sea otter pups in Alaska are usually born in the cold waters of the Mustelidae.... Around 49 to 99 pounds population consists of approximately 15,000 with about a dozen Japan. Watch from a distance and avoid disturbing its rest are beloved due to their skin so skin... Details. ) water-resistant fur to keep them dry and warm, and two small eyes. Has been listed as a lanugo other, sea otter is one of the California ( or southern ) otters... Largest member of weasel family can use a rock to dislodge mollusks and urchins the...
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