The Dangers Faced By Sea Otters. Northern River Otters. Adult males average about 75 lb (34 kg) but sometimes weigh as much as 99 lb (45 kg). Sea otters’ diet includes sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and clams, which they’re known to … They don’t use their teeth to tear food though like many other animals do. The body of the sea otter is relatively long and heavy, making progress on land clumsy and slow. They have four short legs. 7. Sea otter, (Enhydra lutris), rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. Otters are a species that belongs to the mustelids, meaning they’re related to ferrets, badgers, and minks. Sea Otter – Enhydra lutris Description. First, one of the biggest threats to the existence of sea otters is humans. Adult male California sea otters average 29 kg in mass, while females average 20 kg. The Sea Otter has two pairs of them. Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp or hold hands when sleeping to prevent drifting. The nostrils and ears of sea otters close in the water. The Sea Otter has a small round face that is absolutely adorable. Sea otters catch the same shellfish, sea urchins, crabs, clams, and abalone, that indigenous peoples in Alaska and Canada need to eat. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. The sea otter’s fur also is designed to trap air to further insulate it from the cold water and to provide additional buoyancy. ... All of the species except the Sea Otter feature three pairs of powerful incisors. Sea otters have no insulating fat, but trap air under their coasts as insulation. A sea otter’s range mass can be from 14-45 kg (30.84-99.12 lbs) and range in length from 1-1.5 meters (3.28-4.92 ft) (Allerga, Rath and Gunderson, 2012). The Sea Otter ranks as one of the smallest species of marine mammals. Description. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! They usually stay on all four legs, but they can stand up as well but they are expert swimmers and spend a lot of time in water. Individuals can weigh as much as 45 kg. Despite what many people believe, otters are not related to beavers. Description & Behavior. DESCRIPTION: Sea otters use their rear flippers to move and their flat, muscular tails to steer. It makes a shrill "wee" sound like a sea gull. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. Distribution They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Sea otters are brown in fur color that often lightens with age . The largest river otter is the North American river otter, ranging from 100 to 153 cm (39-60 in. This helps the sea otter swim faster. Size. The sea otters usually live near the shore waters of the North Pacific, from Japan, north to the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, then from Alaska down along the Pacific coast of North America to Baja, California. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight in food every day. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. 5. Photo by U.S. Description. They usually stay on all four legs, but they can stand up as well but they are expert swimmers and spend a lot of time in water. Physical Description. Let's find out about the description, size, lifespan, habitat and much more in Sea Otter … However, it also represents the heaviest known type of mustelid. A few survived in Alaska and California. Otters are long and slim animals that can be longer than a meter. and 3 to 14 kg (7-31 lbs.). It is 40–65 inches (100–160 cm) long and weighs Unlike most other animals, otters are playful even as adults. The sea otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat that insulates the animal from freezing water. The large head has a blunt snout, and is connected to the body by a short, stocky neck. Sea Otter is the heaviest of the otters, reaching a maximum weight of 45 kg. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities holding breath underwater. Otters will whistle or whine when upset or frustrated. People affect sea otter populations through direct shootings and trapping sea otters in fishing nets. The fur of the sea otter is the densest of all mammals at about 350,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch, compared to dogs that only have 1,000 to 60,000 hairs per square inch. Just about everyone that seems them has a comment in that regard to make. It has short tail and webbed-feet with retractable front claws. Otter definition is - any of various largely aquatic carnivorous mammals (such as genus Lutra or Enhydra) of the weasel family that usually have webbed and clawed feet and dark brown fur. If the otter gets scared it may flip to its stomach or dive under the water. The sea otter uses air trapped between their hairs to keep themselves insulated in cold waters. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. ). Lacking blubber, otters have amazingly thick fur to assist in retaining heat. Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. All of these characteristics help the sea otter move and get around on their backs. Alaskan sea otters are slightly larger than Californian otters. Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. In a study done in Alaska, it was found that the most common age range was pups (0-1 years of age) as shown in figure 3. Another underwater superlative: The sea otter is the only marine mammal capable of flipping over boulders on the sea floor—in this case to search out food. A rescued sea otter pup is taken to Alaska SeaLife Center to be treated. Physical Description. The large hind feet are broad and flipperlike. Distinctive Characteristics The sea otter is the most derived of the otters. The sea otter will generally live between 10 and 20 years, and maintain a relatively constant age structure. They have four short legs. They can be up to 100 pounds so they are the heaviest of all species. The muzzle has a set of thick vibrissae. Beavers belong to the rodent family, and therefore have nothing to do with otters. Sea otters are incredibly clean and keep their waterproof coats in perfect condition. Otter - Otter - Conservation and classification: Nearly all species of otters face increasing threat as urbanization and logging continue. They are also known as Common otters, North American River Otters or Canadian Otters, and their scientific name is. North American river otters (L. canadensis) are still taken as part of the commercial fur trade, but the primary threats to others are the destruction of wetland habitats and pollution. They have a thick fur coat that keeps them warm even in freezing water. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae—a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and semi-aquatic forms such as weasels, badgers, skunks, fishers, minks, and river otters.Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with the others such as thick fur and short ears. Its ears and nostrils are closed down in water. They like to slide down riverbanks and in snow. Floating on its back, it opens mollusks by smashing them on a stone balanced on its chest. These are ready-to-use Sea Otter worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the sea otters which are born swimmers with long, sleek, streamlined bodies with webbed feet. Protection has permitted them to increase and reoccupy much of their former range. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. 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