In Alaska, the sea otter population is higher, but declining steadily since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. They have four legs to move easily on land, and a long tail to swim through the water. This is believed to be about the same population volume the animals had prior to being hunted nearly to extinction. Sea Otters give birth throughout the year, there is three factors that may effect when the female gives birth those are: the weather, amount of food available, and the location. FEEDING: Underneath each of the sea otter's powerful front paws is a pouch to store food collected during foraging dives. Sea otter pups are born in water and float like corks, but they cannot swim for several weeks. This distinction goes to the sea otter. Gratitude in the workplace: How gratitude can improve your well-being and relationships Thanks.. Answer Save. For octopuses, mating is a pretty subdued affair. Sea urchins feed on stems of the kelp, causing them to break off and die. This set contains 32 clipart files in both color and black and white.This download contains some of the following graphics. Only 2% of sea otter births are multiples. Diet of the Sea Otter. Without the sea otters, all that is left is a barren reef. Sea otters are furry, playful mammals known for holding hands with one another. Females appear to give birth year round, although in the wild, births may peak during the dry season. Sea otters birth throughout the year with the peaks in March and September. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. In Alaska, the sea otter population is higher, but declining steadily since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. It is a single celled parasite belonging to the group called coccidia (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) with opossums as the definitive hosts and a variety of mammals as aberrant or natural intermediate hosts . Otters carry large stones between their forepaws on these dives, used to dislodge prey and to break open shells. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to g… Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. Sea otters are also bilaterally symmetrical, like all other chordates. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m (3.3 and 4.9 ft). Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. Live Sea Otter Radiographs ; Release ; Training Materials . The otter is lithe and slender with short legs, a strong neck, and a long flat tail that helps propel it gracefully through water. The … Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. This indicates that outside factors, such as pollution, may be exacerbating the effects of the otter’s activities. These cute sea creatures are highly specialized predators with many interesting behaviors. Enhydra lutris. 1on average the gestation period lasts for six to eight months, during this time the sperm gets fertilized and grows into the weight of a normal sea otter which is 2 - 2.3 kg, They are usually 56 - 61 cm. So we learned that the cuddliest of creatures, the sea otter, has a violent sex-life, but it gets worse. They start eating solid foods shortly after birth, but are dependent on their mothers for up to a year. Niche: The sea otter eats and preys on other small sea animals in its habitat.The food of the otter is also a part of its job. The average gestation period is six months. The gestation period in otters ... Sea otter. Their diet includes clams, crabs, sea urchins, starfish, abalone, and 40 different marine invertebrates. Go outside to the playground area. The pup will nurse for up to one year, and the mother will teach it how to swim, and feed properly. They prey on crustaceans by using pairs of rocks to crush the outer shells, easily accessing the soft flesh inside. As a result we do know quite a bit about these animals. 0 0. By: Ben StorerThe Life Cycle Of A Sea OtterThe four stages of a sea otters' life are: Gestation, pup, juvenile and then adult.Early Stages Pt. Eurasian otters are polyestrous, having a four- to six-week cycle with two weeks of estrus. Perhaps this is why females typically have one pup at a time. This isn’t exclusive to sea otters alone — river otters are also known to maintain river ecosystems and a healthy fish population by eating diseased fish. Sea urchins and crabs are easily cracked open with the four incisors on the sea otter’s lower jaw. 1-6 pups can be born. Historically, sea otters were hunted heavily for their fur coats. Features of sea otters: What do they look like? When learning to swim, each cub gets an individual lesson from their mother. Sea otter in Morro Bay, California. Life Cycle. Sea otters will eat virtually anything they can get their little paws on. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. Blog. Life Cycle: Birth Pups Adult Death (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. Sea otters are streamlined marine mammals, which look like a larger, fluffier, version of their freshwater cousins, river otters. The life cycle of the sea turtle is a long journey, and only a few survive. The otter is the smallest marine animal but they can get up to five feet long and weigh up to around 70 pounds. These marine mammals have a number of characteristics that make them perfectly suited for life at sea. They have webbed feet and flat tails for swimming. The sea otter is born an otter and grows just like we do. The claws are semi-retractible. The male will hold the female by her muzzle, frequently causing scars. Only 2% of sea otter births are multiples. Sea otters also have thick, brown fur that insulates them against the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. Habitat: Sea otters live along the coasts and stay in shallow bodies of water.Otters live in two main places: the ocean floor to get food, and the surface to rest, eat, and groom themselves. Objective: Students will be able to understand the predators sea otters face in the wild. They are only kept in zoos and aquariums with special permits. 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