Sea Otters that are found in river settings tend to have slender, serpentine bodi… Like polar bears in the Arctic, sea otters are considered keystone species in their ecosystems, because they affect great influence on their environments. Otters are mammals of the subfamily Lutrinae, one of two subfamilies contained within the family Mustelidae. Currently there are less than 3,000 Sea Otters in California, between 65,000 and 78,000 in Washington, Canada, and Alaska combined. Pups are born year round. Their fur actually consists of two layers, an undercoat and longer guard hairs. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Sea otter moms typically nurse and care for their pups for about 6 months before weaning them. Wild sea otters typically have a lifespan between 15 and 20 years. Learn 15 more facts about these fascinating mammals. Average length of an adult California sea otter is about 4 ft. A group of sea otters resting together is called a raft. Their charming features are unparalleled, from their expressions to their use of tools. FUN FACTS Longest recorded dive : 7 min. Aber das ist kein Problem für den talentierten Seeotter, die Risse die Schalen öffnen , indem sie mit Steinen hämmern. 5. Nope. Average weight of an adult female California sea otter is about 50 lbs. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. Fun Facts for Kids. The sea otter is a well-known marine mammal with a historical range along the west coast of North America. Look for sea otters on tour with WWF in Alaska. Sea otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean. North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. Sea otters can spend their entire life in water. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Facts about Sea Otter, Giant Otter, European Otter, African Otter and River Otter. Have you ever seen an otter with a scarred or bloody nose? 2. National Geographic: Sea Otter 2. 4. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters … Unlike northern sea otters found in Alaska, southern sea otters here in California don’t eat fish. All otter species appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and only one is listed as "least concern." They gorge on more than 100 different prey species. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. 11. Research has shown that sea otters are vital to the health of carbon-absorbing kelp forests. iStock Once thought to be gone from the area completely, southern sea otters—known as California sea otters—have been making a … 5. The population eventually bottomed out at only 1,000 to 2,000 by the early 20th century. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. Newborn sea otter pups are so buoyant they can’t immediately dive for food. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. It wedges a rock between its chest and the “armpit” of a foreleg and pounds shells against it to open them up. This system traps a layer of air next to their skin so their skin does not get wet. Its fur is the densest of any animal on Earth—an estimated 1 million hairs per square inch. Large percentage of southern sea otter mortality is due to infectious diseases, many of which are known to have anthropogenic causes. Quick facts about this adorable marine mammal! Additional resources 1. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Gestation is 6 months (2 months delayed implantation + 4 months pregnancy). Sea otters play a vital role in the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem as a keystone species. 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. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Sea Otter Facts: Habitat: Northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. But the sea otter’s habitat is unique, as they only live in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific ocean. Sea otters have built in pouches of loose skin under their forearms to stash extra prey when diving. These include fully webbed hind feet; nostrils and ears … They can use a rock to dislodge mollusks and urchins from the rocks where they are attached. Sea otters eat many kinds of invertebrates, including sea urchins, abalone, clams, crabs, snails, sea stars, squid & octopuses. They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. 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. 6. Floating on its back and using its chest as a table, a sea otter often uses a rock to crack open its prey — especially if dinner is a crab, clam or mussel. Mishka is an asthmatic otter who uses an inhaler. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. Sea otters have no blubber so they constantly groom themselves to maintain the insulating & water repellant properties of their fur. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal species. Sea Otters have joined the ranks of ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and elephant seals, all animals that can contract influenza.According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, sea otters living in a remote area in Washington state were carriers of the H1N1 virus. Sea otter facts! Average dive duration for California sea otters is about 60 seconds. For one of the smallest marine mammals on Earth (yet the largest member of the weasel family), the sea otter has racked up quite a few superlatives: 10. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Weight of otter depends on their breed. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. Sea Otter fressen Fische und wirbellose Meerestiere wie Krabben, Seeigel, Seesterne und Abalone, sowie Tintenfisch und Tintenfische. These adorable little guys have long, streamlined bodies that are just made for being in the water. In California, the weight of a female is 45 lbs and of a male otter is 65 l… A raft is usually comprised of single-sex sea otters that can range from 10 to a hundred individuals. The North American Sea Otter is a much larger breed compared to Asian counterpart species, who only grow to around 10 pounds. Furry, playful and very, very smart, otters are beloved for their adorable antics and sweet appearance. Yet, sea otters do possess the fine, dense fur coats characteristic of the Mustelidae. Sea otters are one of the only mammals that are been known to use tools to obtain and eat their prey. Sea otters are usually dark brown, often with lighter guard h… Currently the southern sea otter population is estimated at just above 3,000 animals. 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