Otters are a species that belongs to the mustelids, meaning they’re related to ferrets, badgers, and minks. 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. The sea otter will generally live between 10 and 20 years, and maintain a relatively constant age structure. The Sea Otter has a small round face that is absolutely adorable. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. Description . ... As a sexually dimorphic organism, male sea otters are larger in size than the females of this species. and 3 to 14 kg (7-31 lbs.). Adult male California sea otters average 29 kg in mass, while females average 20 kg. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight in food every day. They have four short legs. Sea otter, (Enhydra lutris), rare, completely marine otter of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. 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. The species displays a small degree of sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than females. These river otters are also a carnivorous mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family, and were first described in 1777 by the German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber.. Main Characteristics Fur: A sea otter's fur is the thickest and finest of any mammal. Description. River otters range in size from about 87 to 153 cm (34-60 in.) Sea otters’ diet includes sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and clams, which they’re known to … Adult male Alaskan otters weigh 27 to 39 kg, while females weigh 16 to 27 kg. Sea Otters :: MarineBio Video Library. A rescued sea otter pup is taken to Alaska SeaLife Center to be treated. Otters have small, rounded ears, and long sensitive whiskers to help them feel the vibrations of their prey. They belong to the weasel family. Since the 1990s, the southwestern stock of Alaskan sea otters has experienced a dramatic (up to 70% population) decline, most likely due to increased predation by killer whales. Many sea otters live near rocky sea bottoms and shorelines, where marine communities are extremely diverse. Sea otters are brown in fur color that often lightens with age . Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp or hold hands when sleeping to prevent drifting. The sea otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat that insulates the animal from freezing water. Otter Physical Characteristics. River otters as a whole look quite similar to weasels. The Sea Otter ranks as one of the smallest species of marine mammals. The body of the sea otter is relatively long and heavy, making progress on land clumsy and slow. Adult males average about 75 lb (34 kg) but sometimes weigh as much as 99 lb (45 kg). Description of the River Otter. Sea Otter Worksheets. The largest river otter is the North American river otter, ranging from 100 to 153 cm (39-60 in. It has short tail and webbed-feet with retractable front claws. Sea Otter - Physical characteristics. Let's find out about the description, size, lifespan, habitat and much more in Sea Otter … Lacking blubber, otters have amazingly thick fur to assist in retaining heat. Sea otters are incredibly clean and keep their waterproof coats in perfect condition. Their most striking anatomical features are the powerful webbed feet used to swim, and their seal-like abilities holding breath underwater. The characteristics of the otter. Hissing or growling warns predators to back off. DESCRIPTION: Sea otters use their rear flippers to move and their flat, muscular tails to steer. Just about everyone that seems them has a comment in that regard to make. They have 850,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch consisting of two layers, an undercoat and longer guard hairs. The Alaskan sea otter population numbered more than 100,000 in the 1980s. The paws on a sea otter’s hind feet are webbed. They don’t use their teeth to tear food though like many other animals do. The forelimbs are short and similar to those of other otters, with a … They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Northern River Otters. Floating on its back, it opens mollusks by smashing them on a stone balanced on its chest. They have an exceptional sense of smell, hearing, and eyesight above water and below. Otters have long, slim bodies and relatively short limbs. Description. Description. Sea Otter is the heaviest of the otters, reaching a maximum weight of 45 kg. They are also known as Common otters, North American River Otters or Canadian Otters, and their scientific name is. Unlike most other animals, otters are playful even as adults. 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. The sea otter’s fur also is designed to trap air to further insulate it from the cold water and to provide additional buoyancy. The large hind feet are broad and flipperlike. Sea otters catch the same shellfish, sea urchins, crabs, clams, and abalone, that indigenous peoples in Alaska and Canada need to eat. 7. 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. Despite what many people believe, otters are not related to beavers. The sea otter, however, rarely comes ashore, according to the San Diego Zoo. Sea Otter Physical Description. It is 40–65 inches (100–160 cm) long and weighs Sea otters are found in two areas : The Pacific coasts of Russia and Alaska, and along the central California coast. Sea Otter – Enhydra lutris Description. The muzzle has a set of thick vibrissae. The nostrils and ears of sea otters close in the water. The sea otter uses air trapped between their hairs to keep themselves insulated in cold waters. 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! Individuals can weigh as much as 45 kg. Beavers belong to the rodent family, and therefore have nothing to do with otters. If the otter gets scared it may flip to its stomach or dive under the water. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! The Dangers Faced By Sea Otters. Sea otters get around with their sandpaper like paws, webbed feet, and flat tails. However, it also represents the heaviest known type of mustelid. This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about sea otters across 25 in-depth pages. Distribution A baby sea otter will cry when it is left alone. 5. First, one of the biggest threats to the existence of sea otters is humans. They have long, narrow bodies, with long tails and short legs. 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. Otters will whistle or whine when upset or frustrated. Photo by U.S. Most have sharp claws on their feet and all except the sea otter have long, muscular tails. People affect sea otter populations through direct shootings and trapping sea otters in fishing nets. Secondly, oil spills result in the death of sea otters. A few survived in Alaska and California. They like to slide down riverbanks and in snow. 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. Physical Description. Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) Description. ). Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. Size. Otters are mammals that live in and around water. Otters are long and slim animals that can be longer than a meter. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. It makes a shrill "wee" sound like a sea gull. Alaskan sea otters are slightly larger than Californian otters. Protection has permitted them to increase and reoccupy much of their former range. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris), largest and most marine weasel, lives exclusively in shallow seas of the N Pacific, formerly from Japan to California.Ruthless hunting for their valuable pelts almost exterminated sea otters before 1900. Sea Otter Facts For Kids. The large head has a blunt snout, and is connected to the body by a short, stocky neck. Sea Otters have very distinct habitats. 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. Otters are long and slim animals that can be longer than a meter. All of these characteristics help the sea otter move and get around on their backs. This information shows that the sea otter … They have four short legs. Physical Description. Its ears and nostrils are closed down in water. 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. 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. Otters are found throughout Africa, North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Distinctive Characteristics The sea otter is the most derived of the otters. Sea otters have no insulating fat, but trap air under their coasts as insulation. 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. Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length.Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. They can be up to 100 pounds so they are the heaviest of all species. Otters make several different sounds to communicate. 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 the species except the Sea Otter feature three pairs of powerful incisors. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Instead they use them to crush and to grind the food. This helps the sea otter swim faster. 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). Fish and Wildlife Service. The Sea Otter has two pairs of them. They have a thick fur coat that keeps them warm even in freezing water. Description & Behavior. 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