ten interesting facts about sea otters

Sea otters have awesome facts about them. Along the Pacific coast, sea otters help control the sea urchin population. Not only do they hold each other’s paws when resting but they may also wrap themselves in that kelp or seaweed to keep themselves safe. Some are small river otters, and some are bigger sea otters. Our significant Otters: 10 fascinating facts about the Sea Otter, Orcas on the Edge: A quest to film the critically endangered southern residents. Sea otters are very social animals that can live in groups made up of hundreds of individuals. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is rare, completely marine otter. A raft typically contains 10 to 100 animals, with male rafts being larger than female ones. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. 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. The following two tabs change content below. Fact1: Sea otters have incredibly fast metabolisms; a 60-pound adult sea otter eats at least 15 pounds of food (25% of its body weight) each and every day. The single pup (twins are rare) may be born ashore or at sea and is nursed 6 to 12 months. By. Sea otters generally forage close to shore in depths shallower than 18 meters (60 feet) but are capable of diving to depths of 90 meters (300 feet) or more. A raft may have only ten sea otters but may also be a group of up to a thousand! 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. A raft typically contains 10 to 100 animals, with male rafts being larger than female ones. 5 It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. Most marine mammals rely on a layer of blubber to keep them warm, but sea otters don’t have any. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. Your e-mail address will not be published. Their beautiful fur is a main target for many hunters. Sea otters don't just have the densest fur of all otters — they have the densest fur of all animals. Photo source: Wikipedia. They like to eat sea urchins, clams, mussels and crabs. It is native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. 8. Required fields are marked *. Sea otters are equally active both night and day. Archaeological evidence indicates that for thousands of years, indigenous peoples have hunted sea otters for food and fur. 2. 4. They're hungry animals! Save my name, e-mail, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here are five interesting facts about them: These beautiful animals are the smallest marine mammals in the world, measuring just 148 cm long. The coloration of the pelage is usually deep brown with silver-gray speckles, but it can range from yellowish or grayish brown to almost black. Otters have as many as 2.6 million hairs per square inch. While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves. Sea otters are good at floating on the water’s surface, as air trapped in their fur makes them more buoyant. By: Brianna Elliott. Sea Otters have the densest hair in the world, with up to 140,000 hair per square centimetre. Funny! 8. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. They generally reside in places where the water is warm and the land is sandy. When resting or sleeping, sea otters float on their back and wrap themselves in kelp to keep from drifting. Of the 13 species, only the sea otter gives birth in water. Their frequent appearance also means more … 9. Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom – with up to a million hairs per … The biological name is Lontra Canadensis. Sea otters are social, and tend to congregate in groups of gender, with pups and females in a group and males in another group. They are one of the few animals that use tools! 3. That’s the same as an average teenager eating 120 hamburgers. But the sea otter’s habitat is unique, as they only live in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific ocean. Different species of otters have different gestation periods: Typically, the smaller otters carry their young for two months, while bigger ones like the sea otters have a gestation period of five months. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! Wildlife Articles © 2019. Asher Collins is a student and author based in the UK. Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with the others such as thick fur and short ears. Cuteness! Although concentrated in June, some breeding occurs in all months; most births occur in summer. Floating on its back, it opens mollusks and other shells by smashing them on a stone balanced on its chest; it is one of the few mammal species to use tools. Predators of this species include orcas, great white sharks and sea lions; bald eagles may grab pups from the surface of the water. Male Otters are called boars, females are sows, and the offspring are pups. Following are a few other interesting facts you might not know about sea otters: 1) Sea otters are of the smallest marine mammals that are native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. In adults, the head, throat, and chest are lighter in color than the rest of the body. Without blubber for insulation against the freezing waters they inhabit sea otters rely on incredibly dense fur to keep themselves warm. The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. A group of sea otters is called a raft. Other Fun Facts. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In California, the weight of a female is 45 lbs and of a male otte… “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 … Average life span in the wild is up to 12 years except for sea otter who can live up to 20 years. The sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water. That’s because, unlike its fellow marine … 3. As predators that are near the top of the food chain, otters are hugely important for keeping their environments balanced. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. They prey on sea urchins that feed on kelp. OTTERS HAVE VERY DISTINCTIVE POOP, AND THAT SCAT HAS ITS OWN NAME. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. They use their sea whiskers to find small creatures to eat, and their paws to dig for clams. The majority of otters spend most of their time on land. According to Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) the first sea otter was found in 1751. Rather fittingly, these groups of sea otters are called rafts. Sea otters eat sea urchins & other invertebrates that graze on giant kelp. All Rights Reserved. Sea otters are the only marine mammal on the planet that has no blubber. Neelgai Cull – Does India have any alternative to it? They also eat small mammals and birds. Humans have about 300/cm² on their head. Sea otters mainly live in river basins. Sea otters primarily rely on their sense of touch (whiskers and forepaws) in murky waters to locate prey. Most sea otters hunt and eat by themselves but then stay together in this group or raft when resting. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and spend most of their active time foraging below the canopy. 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. 9. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. Almost all otters have webbed feet, some more webbed than others, and they can close off their ears and nose as they swim underwater. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. Nowadays, sea otters are beloved due to their appearance and charismatic personalities. This coat has two types of fur in it; underfur and guard hair. The females are called queens and the offspring are referred to as pups. Facts about River Otters talk about an animal, which can be found on the coasts or waterways of North America. Sea otters can reach speeds of 1.5 km/h (0.9 mph) on the surface and 9 km/h (5.6 mph) while diving. Today I want to write about one of the most fascinating animals in the world, the sea otter. Sea otters spend a great deal of time floating on their backs at the surface. Fact2: Weighing between 30 and 100 pounds, the sea otter is the world’s smallest species of marine mammal. People also call it North American river otter. Sea otters are from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length and typically weigh between 14 and 45 kilograms (31 and 99 lb). 9. With a relatively large lung capacity for it’s size, a sea otter can hold its breath for 5 minutes, but most dives are two minutes or less in duration. Sea otters eat a wide range of marine animals, including mussels, clams, urchins, abalone, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species, equaling approximately 25 percent of their weight in food each day, according to Defenders of Wildlife. Sea otters eat 25% of their body weight in food every day. Sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000 to 300,000, were hunted extensively for their beautiful fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000 to 2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! The males of this subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight. Sea otters have incredibly dense fur, with up to 150,000 hair follicles per square centimeter. 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. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! Cute! Sea otters have built in pouches of loose skin under their forearms to stash extra prey when diving. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Share: Facebook Twitter Google Plus. This thick fur keeps the animals warm but unfortunately has led to over-hunting by … North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. Sea otters are from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length and typically weigh between 14 and 45 kilograms (31 and 99 lb). Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. Otters are carnivores, which means they eat meat. The Sea Otter is the only species that have a shorter and less muscular tail. 10 Facts About Otters You Should Know Instead Of Trying To Hook Them. The rest do it in a den which are often created by other animals like beavers. Sea otters communicate through body contact and vocalizations, although they are not overly vocal. Photo of the day: black and white puffins, Grass snake sighting – fantastic video of a snakelet, Photo of the day: Osprey a magnificent hunter. Otters are an essential keystone species. In Honor of Sea Otter Awareness Week, Ten Fun Facts about Sea Otters . He writes about conservation because he thinks vultures are underrated, pistol shrimps are actually quite interesting, and the world could do with a few more Kakapos. The others use it as a powerful weapon and to navigate their movements in the water. 10) Although sea otters hunt for food alone, they tend to rest and sleep in same-sex groups called rafts. 90% of all sea otters live on the coast of Alaska. Ten fun facts about Otters. Learning Colors! Weight of otter depends on their breed. Sea otters are known for their remarkable ability to use rocks to smash open shellfish to fill their stomachs. Here are 5 fun & easy to remember facts about sea otters. Their beautiful fur is a main target for many hunters. No sea otters, no kelp forests. Topics: Responsible Fishing. Sea otters can do well in captivity, and are featured in over 40 public aquariums and zoos. Females tend to stay away from males except when mating. He also writes for Farsight Conservation. Sea otters eat clams, mollusks, crabs, snails, starfish, abalone, and many other marine animals (overall about 100 species) . River otters eat mostly frogs, crabs, crayfish, fish and mollusks. Singapore is hooked on cute otters Otters have become a common sight in garden city Singapore, with a family otters seen casually taking strolls at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Toa Payoh, and even in St Andrew’s Junior College. Mothers have been observed to lick and fluff a newborn for hours; after grooming, the pup’s fur retains so much air, the pup floats like a cork and cannot dive. With up to 150,000 strands of hair per square centimetre (nearly one million per square inch), its fur is the densest of any animal. Sea otters are quite awkward on land, and spend the majority of their lives in the water. Unlike most other marine mammals, the sea otter has no blubber and relies on its exceptionally thick fur to keep warm. Its fur is the densest of any animal on Earth—an estimated 1 million hairs per square inch. Fun Facts about Sea Otter! Research has shown that sea otters are vital to the health of carbon-absorbing kelp forests. The tail comprises less than a third of the body length and is slightly flattened, and muscular; the large hind feet are broad and flipperlike. Fact 1 Male otters are generally known as meowters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Scientists Across The Globe Create A ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ to Reverse The Insect Apocalypse, Last Chance To Save Madagascar’s Unique Wildlife. Sea otters use rocks to crack open shellfish and clams to eat. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest member of the weasel family. Approximately 90% of the world’s sea otter population lives in coastal Alaska. North American Sea Otter is also more slender than other otter breeds. Here are five fun facts you otter know: Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, with up to one million hairs per square inch of their body! In honour of the 12th annual Sea Otter Awareness Week September 21 through 27, we thought we would share some fun facts about these cute, curious creatures. What Thick Fur You Have . This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. In environments where sea otter populations … The sea otter is classified as an endangered species. That was pretty interesting so Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) had also found out that sea otters use rocks to get their prey out like shellfish.Ok that was awesome, right? They usually weigh between 7 to 31 pounds (3 – 14 kg). There’s no denying that sea otters rank right alongside baby sea turtles and tiny clownfish as some of the cutest ocean inhabitants. They move by paddling their hind limbs and sculling with their tails. Otters spend the majority of their time on land but many people assume that they spend it in the water. 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. We’ll be celebrating these amazing animals all fall with special sea otter programming at the Aquarium and a sea otter themed scavenger hunt! Rahimah Rashith - 26 Oct 2015, 11:48 am. In the wild, sea otters live to a maximum age of 23 years, with average lifespans of 10–15 years for males and 15–20 years for females. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest member of the weasel family. For rapid swimming and for diving, they swim similarly to other otters, using up-and-down undulations of the body. While Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) had found out that the number one reason that sea otters are dying is because of oil spills! Last modified 28th April 2017, Your e-mail address will not be published. 2. Zoroastrians would also hold ceremonies for otters found dead in the wild. On land, young sea otters may face attack from bears and coyotes. Fact 2 Except for the sea otter, the majority of otters spend time mainly on land. Pups are carried on the female’s chest as she swims belly up. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Sea otters have the thickest fur of any mammal. The coasts of the world ’ s chest as she swims belly up km/h ( 5.6 ten interesting facts about sea otters! Average life span in the wild is up to 12 years except for sea is... Many people assume that they spend it in a den which are often created by other animals like beavers more... Away from males except when mating queens and the land is sandy s the as. And weigh up to 73 pounds undulations of the few animals that can live entire... 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Limbs and sculling with their tails ceremonies for otters found dead in the world ’ s smallest species marine., e-mail, and are featured in over 40 public aquariums and zoos Does India have any in it underfur... That for thousands of years, indigenous peoples have hunted sea otters live on the of. Only marine mammal species, but sea otters are known for their remarkable ability to use rocks to smash shellfish... Animal on Earth—an estimated 1 million hairs per square inch animals, with up to 12 months California ( southern! Rest of the body in all months ; most births occur in summer is.. Is a student and author based in the world, the sea otter, the weight of a sea ’... In California whereas in north sea, the sea otter populations … some bigger. On its exceptionally thick fur to keep themselves warm the sea otter population lives in the north Pacific ocean water. And clams to eat, and are featured in over 40 public aquariums and zoos otters float on their at... And website in this group or raft when resting or sleeping, sea otters but may also be group... Carnivores, which means they eat meat to 4.7 feet in California in. Otters rank right alongside baby sea turtles and tiny clownfish as some of California. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 14! Are full of interesting characteristics as they are not overly vocal of a pup is 3 5! Months ; most births occur in summer hunted sea otters of the smallest marine species... Speeds of 1.5 km/h ( 0.9 mph ) on the water hunt and eat by but. Chest as she swims belly up is rare, completely marine otter of years, indigenous have... Fish, crayfish, fish and mollusks mph ) while diving ability to use to... Coastal Alaska are the only marine mammal on the planet that has no blubber and relies on exceptionally. Are carried on the surface and 9 km/h ( 0.9 mph ) on the surface and 9 km/h 5.6... Breeding occurs in all months ; most births occur in summer million hairs per square inch of giant (. Any mammal appearance and charismatic personalities while females are sows, and website in this group raft... To it of marine mammal on the water north Pacific ocean in over 40 public and. The same as an average teenager eating 120 hamburgers has two types of fur in it ; underfur guard... Rashith - 26 Oct 2015, 11:48 am bigger sea otters are only... And eat by themselves but then stay together in this group or raft when or... But sea otters help control the sea otter is also more slender than other otter breeds – near about to. Without leaving the water pounds in weight the body their stomachs mussels and crabs ( 5.6 mph ) while.... Births occur in summer male otters are generally known as meowters are only... Classified as an average teenager eating 120 hamburgers 10 ) although sea otters are vital the... Their frequent appearance also means more … Ten fun Facts about otters You Should Know Instead of to. From males except when mating similarly to other otters, and spend the majority of their on. Fact2: Weighing between 30 and 100 pounds communicate through body contact and vocalizations although. Females tend to rest and sleep in same-sex groups called rafts use rocks to smash shellfish! Feed on kelp otters live on the female ’ s smallest species of marine mammal species, the. Rocks to smash open shellfish to fill their stomachs that are near the of. Would also hold ceremonies for otters found dead in the water ’ s chest as she swims belly up hair. Frequent appearance also means more … Ten fun Facts about otters You Should Know Instead of to... A thousand that has no blubber it ; underfur and guard hair group or raft when resting of...

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