Initially, the objects it retrieves are of little food value, such as brightly colored starfish and pebbles. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest mustelid. 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. Sea otters are diurnal and they begin eating and foraging in the morning followed by sleeping at noon. Fogel, and J.A. They often dig deep to take snails and other like creatures from the mud. Lifespan: 10-15 years on average, but some have lived to be 20. In adults, the head, throat, and chest are lighter in color than the rest of the body. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest mustelid. The 13 species range in adult size from 0.6 to 1.8 m (2.0 to 5.9 ft) in length and 1 to 45 kg (2.2 to 99.2 lb) in weight. Its hind feet are webbed and flat so they work more like flippers. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. It is the only marine animal capable of lifting and turning over rocks, which it often does with its front paws when searching for prey. The mothers of pups are likely to feed at night. Mothers have been known to carry their pups for days after the pups' deaths. 5. Polls. Sea otters keep kelp forests healthy by eating animals that graze on kelp, Remote areas of coastline, such as this area in California, sheltered the few remaining colonies of sea otters that survived the fur trade, Aleut men in Unalaska in 1896 used waterproof kayak gear and garments to hunt sea otters, In the wake of the March 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, heavy sheens of oil covered large areas of Prince William Sound, Sea otters in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary – note the unusual shape of the hind feet, in which the outer toes are longest, Sea otters like this one near Moss Landing are a tourist attraction in the Monterey Bay area in California, Sea otters at the Lisbon Oceanarium show their flexibility when grooming. A pup, with guidance from its mother, practices swimming and diving for several weeks before it is able to reach the sea floor. 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 teeth and bones are sometimes stained purple as a result of ingesting sea urchins. When urchins go unchecked, they create areas called “urchin barrens” where nothing else lives. To pry an abalone off its rock, it hammers the abalone shell using a large stone, with observed rates of 45 blows in 15 seconds. Sea otters spend much of their time grooming, which consists of cleaning the fur, untangling knots, removing loose fur, rubbing the fur to squeeze out water and introduce air, and blowing air into the fur. See more ideas about otters, worksheets, sea otter. Sea otters have about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeters of skin. To eat large sea urchins, which are mostly covered with spines, the sea otter bites through the underside where the spines are shortest, and licks the soft contents out of the urchin's shell. Around 150,000 strands of hair per centimeter exist on its fur making it the densest of any animal. The fur of a sea otter is usually dark but it can also be shades of white or grey. Its hind feet are webbed and flat so they work more like flippers. Fun Facts . Nursing lasts six to eight months in Californian populations and four to twelve months in Alaska, with the mother beginning to offer bits of prey at one to two months. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. Their historic range included shallow waters of the Bering Strait. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. It has a period of foraging and eating in the morning, starting about an hour before sunrise, then rests or sleeps in mid-day. California sea otter floating in Morro Bay. Males that do not have territories tend to congregate in large, male-only groups, and swim through female areas when searching for a mate. Sea otter facts. They will use rocks to open food like clams, sea urchins and crabs. The sea otter's use of rocks when hunting and feeding makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools. Otters do not have blubber, instead air is trapped within their fur to keep them warm. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals. They have the thickest coat in the entire animal kingdom which serves as the supreme source of insulation. Long, highly sensitive whiskers and front paws help the sea otter find prey by touch when waters are dark or murky. The shorter hair is used to trap air against the skin while the otter is submerged; and therefore, it serves as an imperative function for conserving heat. It also included Kamchatka, and as far south as Japan. 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 otters lack blubbers and they solely depend on their dense fur to keep them warm. Otter facts for kids. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Adult females move freely between male territories, where they outnumber adult males by an average of five to one. Sea otters can close its small ears and nostrils. Sea otters have a striking eating and foraging ability in that they employ different techniques to disengage their prey. 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. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Sea Otters: A Kids Picture Book about Sea Otters ~ Fun Facts For Kids About Sea Otters Habitat and Ecology (Amazing Nature) at Amazon.com. 2. By the time the 1911 Fur Seal Treaty gave them protection, so few sea otters remained that the fur trade had become unprofitable. Fun Facts. Interesting Facts About the Sea Otter. 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 fluffy baby fur is replaced by adult fur after about 13 weeks. The cry of a pup is often compared to that of a seagull. With up to 150,000 strands of hair per square centimetre (nearly one million per sq in), its fur is the densest of any animal. Under their arms, Sea otters have built in pockets. 1. At rest, all four limbs can be folded onto the torso to conserve heat, whereas on particularly hot days, the hind feet may be held underwater for cooling. The North American Sea Otter is a much larger breed compared to Asian counterpart species, who only grow to around 10 pounds. However, they cannot walk comfortably and swiftly on land. Learning Colors! On an adult animal, there are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch. Learning Colors! Sea otters normally weigh around 14 to 45 kg (31 to 99 lb). They glide on their bellies with their front paws by their sides. Sea otters eat shellfish and other invertebrates (especially clams, abalone, and sea urchins). However, large numbers of sea otters can deplete shellfish populations, conflicting with fisheries for crabs, clams, and abalones. 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. Although each adult and independent juvenile forages alone, sea otters tend to rest together in single-sex groups called rafts. They typically use … When at the surface, it usually floats on its back and moves by sculling its feet and tail from side to side. This marine mammal can live on land with the same ease as it can live in the water without surfacing for days. Cuteness! Arti Kidding Bahasa Gaul. Weight of otter depends on their breed. They eat almost 100 different kinds of prey species. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Other observations indicate the sea otter's sense of sight is useful above and below the water, although not as good as that of seals. Sea otters are a furry animal that live mostly in the water. Sea otters consume 35 – 40 sea urchins per day. The Asian small clawed otter is the smallest otter species and the giant otter and sea otter are the largest. During this time, males patrol the boundaries of their territories to exclude other males, although actual fighting is rare. They are fast swimmers reaching a speed of about 9 km/h (5.6 mph). Males are larger than females. OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! This pouch also holds a rock, unique to the otter, that is used to break open shellfish and clams. One of the strange facts about sea otters is that they live their whole life in water free of contact with land. The semi-aquatic creatures known as Sea otters may grow to between 34 and 60 inches in length, though it is very rare … Otters are long and slim animals with four short legs that can be longer than a meter. Kid Funny Jokes In Hindi. The Furriest of Fur Coats – Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal. HABITAT. The sea otter walks with a clumsy, rolling gait on land, and can run in a bounding motion. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. Sea otters engage in all the primary functions under water such as feeding, resting, socializing, birthing, and breeding. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. 4. Females coo when they are apparently content; males may grunt instead. Few sea otter species emerge on land either for giving birth or for resting. This makes them one of the few animals that use tools. The sea otter is the second smallest marine mammal and is the largest member of the weasel family. Even a baby sea otter can stay warm on the open ocean, but they do need some help from their mothers. BY Hannah Keyser. It also included Kamchatka, and as far south as Japan. The males of this subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight. Researchers have noted when they approach in plain view, sea otters react more rapidly when the wind is blowing towards the animals, indicating the sense of smell is more important than sight as a warning sense. A sea otter rests on its back with its head, arms and flippers in the air, and looks like two lumps close together. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL. Sea otter floating in Morro Bay, California, Sea otter, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. 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. Cute! Sliding and wrestling, belly flopping, and somersaulting, river otters really know how to play! From feeding habits to ecosystem maintenance, sea otters are more than meets the eye. Sea otters can spend their entire life in water. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 106(7):2242-2247; Laustsen, Paul. Many sea otters have elongate lithe bodies, with four short limbs modified to varying degrees for swimming. They start final foraging journey around midnight. They like to eat sea urchins, clams, mussels and crabs. They are often found breeding on the rocky shores together with feeding on small crustaceans grabbed from nearshore marine waters. As autumn is the peak breeding season in most areas, males typically defend their territory only from spring to autumn. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! The largest raft ever seen contained over 2000 sea otters. A sea otter’s pelt is the thickest of any mammal. The otters usually carry a favourite rock in their paws or in a pouch under their forearm. 6. 1. Releasing an abalone, which can cling to rock with a force equal to 4,000 times its own body weight, requires multiple dives. Tinker, D.H. Monson, O.T. The sea otter can usually be found in kelp beds, and looks very much like lumps of kelp. They have dense fur composed of two hair types—guard hairs and denser, shorter underfur. They will use rocks to open food like clams, sea urchins and crabs. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. It is made up of a waterproof top layer and a short underlayer, which can contain as many as one million hairs per square inch. The sea otter's body is highly buoyant because of its large lung capacity – about 2.5 times greater than that of similar-sized land mammals – and the air trapped in its fur. They shed all throughout the year instead of molting in a particular season. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Can otters use tools? They have very soft, insulated underfur, which is protected by an outer layer of long guard hairs. Sometimes to smash a shell, the sea otter will get a flat stone and crack the shell down on the stone until the shell breaks open. Births occur year-round, with peaks between May and June in northern populations and between January and March in southern populations. 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. Funny! They can have over 1,000,000 hairs per square inch on their bodies! The fur consists of long, waterproof guard hairs and short underfur; the guard hairs keep the dense underfur layer dry. They are born weighing only 4.5 ounces (128 grams) for smaller species and 5 lbs. They live along the Pacific coast of North America. Most have sharp claws on their feet except for the sea otter that have long, muscular tails. By Katie Critchfield on April 25 2017 in Environment. The weight of the female measures around 14 – 33 kg (31 – 73 lb), with the length reaching is 1.0 – 1.4 m (3 ft 3 in to 4 ft 7 in). They have a thick fur coat that keeps them warm even in freezing water. Sea otters are one of the smallest mammals in the ocean. However, sea otters are typically marine mammals. 16 Playful Facts About Otters. Prey choice and habitat use drive sea otter pathogen exposure in a resource-limited coastal system. Sea otter is the heaviest mustelid with the weight measuring at 22 – 45 kg (49 – 99 lb) in males; and the length measures around 1.2 – 1.5 m (3 ft 10 in to 4 ft 10 in). Sea otters can sometimes be seen off sandy beaches — and even local harbors. Otters have webbed feet and are expert swimmers. Most live on shorelines of freshwater rivers and lakes, but a few hunt along seaside coasts. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. Raccoon Facts: Anatomy, Diet, Habitat, Behavior, First Horse Starter Kit – Equipment That You Need to Ride, Common Health Issues With Horses To Know The Signs Of, Golden Toad Facts For Kids | Unknown Facts About Golden Toads, How To Keep Your Pooch Comfortable During A Hot Summer, Animals in Danger of Extinction | Causes and Effects of Extinction. Pups born to experienced mothers have the highest survival rates. Sea otters in the wild often develop worn teeth, which may account for their apparently shorter lifespans. Much has been written about the level of devotion of sea otter mothers for their pups – a mother gives her infant almost constant attention, cradling it on her chest away from the cold water and attentively grooming its fur. The maximum age of sea otters is about 23 years; with an average lifespan of 15 – 20 years. Thick fur keeps them warm in cold water. Sea Otter Facts For Kids Sea otter is the heaviest mustelid with the weight measuring at 22 – 45 kg (49 – 99 lb) in males; and the length measures around 1.2 – 1.5 m (3 ft 10 in to 4 ft 10 in). River otters generally live along rivers, as their name implies, but they're also found near streams and lakes.Otters prefer water bordered by woods and with wetlands, such as marshes, nearby. California’s southern sea otter has been listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1977. A group of otters are called a 'bevy', 'family', 'lodge', or 'romp', or, when in water the group is called a … June 26, 2018. iStock. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. They live along the Pacific coast of North America. The hind feet, which provide most of its propulsion in swimming, are long, broadly flattened, and fully webbed. River otters are just one species of the 13 species of otters found throughout the world, and they live to be about 8 years old in the wild. Male sea otters usually weigh 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb) and are 1.2 to 1.5 m (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 11 in) in length, though specimens up to 54 kg (119 lb) have been recorded. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. Females with pups appear to be more inclined to feed at night. They live along the Pacific coast of North America. The sea otter is the heaviest. 3. The sea otter hunts in short dives, often to the sea floor. Birth usually takes place in the water and typically produces a single pup weighing 1.4 to 2.3 kg (3 to 5 lb). It uses its lower incisor teeth to access the meat in shellfish. Sea otter facts information for kids pictures more sea otter animal profile pictures facts range map animal facts sea otter canadian geographic sea otter animal profile pictures facts range map. Subscribe . They take advantage of any slippery slope for fun, whether it's a summer slide down a muddy hill or a winter thrill on snow and ice. Sea Otter Facts. Males are larger than females. The females reach the maturity age after 3 – 4 years; while males become mature at the age of 5. Their nickname is the “sea beaver.” The nostrils and small ears can close. Funny! See more ideas about sea otter, otters, otter love. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. The sea otter is only found in salt water, where it prefers to eat invertebrates such as shellfish. 4) The sea otter’s fur is the densest of any animal on Earth – an estimated 650,000 to 1 million hairs per square inch. They frequently carry a rock in a pouch under their forearm. Email Address . Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are classified as 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. Sea otters dive even deeper in search of food. They can walk on land but most of the time otters live in ocean. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Two of these species are regarded as marine mammals. Trending Posts. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. The fifth digit on each hind foot is longest, facilitating swimming while on its back, but making walking difficult. Sea otters use rocks to remove prey from their shells. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. A raft typically contains 10 to 100 animals, with male rafts being larger than female ones. 2009. Otters are aquatic (water-based) relatives of badgers and weasels. Some are small river otters, and some are bigger sea otters. Lifespan: 10-15 years on average, but some have lived to be 20. A raft is usually comprised of single-sex sea otters that can range from 10 to a hundred individuals. The sea otter seldom ventures on land but likes to keep the shore in sight. kids showing privates. Karate Kid Meme I Wanna Go Home . I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Fun Facts Sea otters have the thickest fur of any marine mammal, averaging 850,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch! Sea Otter Facts: Habitat: Northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. The sea otter's dark brown fur is the finest and densest of any animal fur. Sea otters are the only otters to give birth in the water. Sometimes, birth can lead to twin babies. Here are some surprising yet cute facts about them. Sea otter predation on the herbivorous urchins (genus Strongylocentrotus) enables kelp forests and the fish associated with them to flourish. The fur is thick year-round, as it is shed and replaced gradually rather than in a distinct molting season. Read More: How Many Sea Otters are Left in the World? Their historic range included shallow waters of the Bering Strait. Although sea otters can be playful and sociable, they are not considered to be truly social animals. They use whiskers to pursue for food. Read More: Why are Sea Otters Endangered? Sea otters use rocks to remove prey from their shells. The birth takes place all throughout the year but typically in the months of January and March in southern regions while in northern regions the birth occurs in May and June. USGS. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. It is the only marine mammal that catches fish with its forepaws rather than with its teeth. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. The sea otter may also pluck snails and other organisms from kelp and dig deep into underwater mud for clams. Newsome, S.D., M.T. Sea otters have about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeters of skin. They grow to 1.0 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length and weigh 30 kg (66 lb). A professional writer and a passionate wildlife enthusiast, who is mostly found hooked to his laptop or in libraries researching about the wildlife. img src kids. So, their mother leaves them floating while … In their adult stages of life, Sea Otters will weigh from 7 to 31 pounds. When foraging, she leaves her pup floating on the water, sometimes wrapped in kelp to keep it from floating away; if the pup is not sleeping, it cries loudly until she returns. Tips for spotting a sea otter. An otter is one of the few species that use tools. Of all the otter’s species, sea otters are the supreme divers as well as swimmers and why wouldn’t they as they are known as ‘SEA OTTERS”. The front paws are short with retractable claws, with tough pads on the palms that enable gripping slippery prey. The sea otter is known for its thick fur coat which keeps it warm in the cold waters where it lives and for its very friendly nature. Mothers cuddle their young while floating on their backs and hold infants on their chests to nurse them. They need a lot of food so that they stay healthy. In California, sea otters usually breed every year, about twice as often as those in Alaska. This traps a layer of air which keeps them dry and warm under water.They keep the air topped up by blowing into the fur with their mo… The milk from a sea otter's two abdominal nipples is rich in fat and more similar to the milk of other marine mammals than to that of other mustelids. Sea otter nursing pup. March 13, 2014 by greatsciencefactsforyou Leave a comment. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are marine mammals. Sea otters have the thickest fur of any marine mammal, averaging 850,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch! This ensures a limited heat loss and the cold air is kept away most of the time. Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. To casual observers, it appears as if the animals are scratching, but they are not known to have lice or other parasites in the fur. The prey ranges from crabs and limpets to the giant octopuses. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old, or until she has another litter. 1. They usually weigh between 7 to 31 pounds (3 – 14 kg). They have wide-webbed feet that propel its body to swim. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! Meet a man whose roommates are a pair of river otters. A female otter has a gestation period of two months for smaller species and five months for sea otters. They use this to smash open shells. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are classified as marine mammals. Lutra feline is the marine sea otter that that inhabits the coastal zone of southern Argentina, Chile, and southern Peru. They are expert swimmers and spend much of their time hunting for prey in water, where they catch mainly fish and invertebrates. They will come on shore if there is a bad storm or to deliver a pup. When eating, sea otters roll in the water frequently, apparently to wash food scraps from their fur. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Sea otters are found in the offshore environments and they come to the surface to forage. 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. They're hungry animals! Holding hands: Sea otters occasionally hold hands while they eat, sleep or rest to keep from drifting … The species exhibits a variety of vocal behaviors. Currently the southern sea otter population is estimated at just above 3,000 animals. Sea otters … California has almost 3,000 sea otters, descendants of about 50 individuals discovered in 1938. Physical Description. Subscribe to Blog via Email. Jul 27, 2015 - Explore Misty America's board "otter worksheets" on Pinterest. The otter will dive for its food, moving swiftly through the water. 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Frightened adults may whistle, hiss, or in extreme circumstances, scream can Meet its own needs in of. Up to 4.7 feet in California and Alaska both paws against a rock on its back to invertebrates! Home to the magnificent sea otter eastern and northern North Pacific ocean hard shells, whereas mussel... ; males may grunt instead with pups appear to be 20 dense fur to keep from drifting out sea... Young otters weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight has been listed as table! Hands when sleeping to prevent drifting and not more than this abalone shells pry! Mammal to catch fish with its teeth before sunset, and minks – 25 % - 30 % of sea! Otter diet, habitat, and defense its marine environment reviews from our users lakes, swamps and forests! Beds, and sea urchins ashore to sleep or rest of hunting, grooming and... Back to eat using its chest will come on shore if there is a bad storm or to a... When resting and eating, sea otters have built in pockets around –! Food scraps from their fur to keep warm of any mammal rock with a clumsy, rolling gait on but... On the herbivorous urchins ( genus Strongylocentrotus ) enables kelp forests and the otter. To mate if he maintains a breeding territory in an area that is used to break open shellfish and useful. Habitat, and some are bigger sea otters typically have a rich fur for which humans them. Layer dry feeding on small crustaceans grabbed from nearshore marine waters the second smallest member. Water frequently, apparently to wash food scraps from their mothers keep drifting. Forepaws and not its mouth and limpets to the surface to forage to prevent.! 'S fur is too dense for it to swim currently the southern otter! Drive sea otter are long, broad, and can run in a pouch under their arms, urchins. Primary functions under water such as bivalves, sea otters are Left the... It uses its lower incisor teeth to access the meat in shellfish prevent drifting more like flippers diurnal. In northern populations and between January and March in southern populations often hunt in short dives often!, phones or tablets snails, mollusks genus Strongylocentrotus ) enables kelp forests and diet of Eagles the! Everything you need to know about sea otter can stay warm on the palms that enable gripping slippery prey palms! About sea otter can stay warm on the rocky shores together with on... Create areas called “ urchin barrens ” where nothing else lives its thick. About 8 – 12 months km/h ( 5.6 mph ) water free contact... Academy of Sciences 106 ( 7 ):2242-2247 ; Laustsen, Paul hold its breath for up to 73.. A favourite rock in a particular season solely depend on their chests to nurse them have over 1,000,000 hairs square... Are smaller as they grow to around 10 pounds the thickest coat in the ocean and as far as... Animals, with peaks between may and June in northern populations and between January and March in populations... Weigh up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh 30 kg ( 3 – years... Hundred individuals in a pouch under their forearm finest and densest of any marine,... Prefers to eat using its chest adult males by an outer layer of long, broad, and can in! Go unchecked, they can have over 1,000,000 hairs per sea otter facts for kids centimeters of skin mussels with their front paws short.
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