They have a smaller skull with a long face and small teeth. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. Most of the time, sea otters will try to ignore or avoid people, but in areas where they’ve become used to high levels of human activity, they will sometimes approach boats or kayaks. Their coat is made up of several layers. The struggles between sea otters are not frequent and they have a varied vocal behavior. They are mostly found in Kamchatka and the major islands; however the growth of their population has recently slowed down, because it has reached the country´s capacity to sustain this species. The range of marine otters’ habitat is expanding due to the lack of food in its current range. These creatures are large and have a wide skull with short nasal bones. Sawfish: Characteristics, habitat, reproduction and more…. Behavior Sea otters are mammals that are active during the day and while they are resting, they gather into groups known as rafts or pods (Allegra, Rath and Gunderson, 2012;SeaWorld, 2005). The people of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment are truly and deeply driven to inspire on behalf of, to celebrate and connect with, and to care for the natural world we all share. The sea otter is diurnal. From fun and affordable field trips for students to amazing summer adventures, our camps combine education and entertainment in a way that connects people to the sea and sea life like nowhere else. The sea otters inhabit the North Pacific from northern Japan to Baja California in Mexico. They may rest in kelp canopy, open water or occasionally hauled out on land. Ed. River otters may be either diurnal or nocturnal; most are generally more active at night. Spot-necked otters have been observed in groups of more than 6, and as many as 20, animals. Otters spend a substantial amount of time grooming, and many species of river otters have designated areas on land for drying and grooming their fur. AW was scored when the sea otter was swimming (usually looking for a food or foraging), eating food (fish or … In 1989 an independent colony was discovered on the coast of British Columbia, which had about 300 individuals who according to some investigators could be transported otters who survived the fur trade. Observations of the amount of time a sea otter must spend each day foraging range from 24 to 60%, apparently depending on the availability of food in the area. Male river otters ignore females and young through most of the year. The sea otters don´t catch the fish with their mouth, but with their front limbs. The last sea otter pelt was sold for $1,000 in 1910–enough money to buy a house in the early 20th century. They are often seen rolling around, covering their eyes, making noise, and even sliding down embankments. Freshwater otters generally rest and sleep on land, either above ground or in dens. The wounds form pink scars that researchers can use to identify individual females. As it travels through the fallopian tubes from the ovary to the uterus, it divides several times and then reaches a stage called a blastocyst. Researchers have observed sea otters spending at least 11% to 48% of their day grooming. In addition, agrees to make efforts to recover the species, which means to create and develop a plan to recover them at healthy population levels. It has a period of foraging and eating in the morning, starting about an hour before sunrise, then rests or sleeps in mid-day. It is common for them to suffer deterioration in their teeth when they are in their habitats, which is thought to shorten their lives. Groups with as many as 20 individuals have been reported, but groups of 4 to 8 are more common. Otters. Otters produce small amounts of spraint several times a day, depositing it in conspicuous designated areas and spraying it with scent. Sea otter foraging behavior and hydrocarbon levels in prey following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Social Behavior. In Southeast Asia, smooth otters typically occur in social groups consisting of an adult male-female pair and their young. Otter groups are called rafts, and the animals famously hold hands to keep from drifting apart. At the beginning of the twentieth century, only 2,000 animals remained. Discover the science behind the cute. After childbirth, the female observes her puppy and prepares his fur on her chest during the first hours. After the fertilization takes place, the egg undergoes a series of changes. However they also occupy to a lesser extent oceanic areas with sand, mud or muddy floors. The otter wouldn’t be able to use its whiskers because the fish wouldn’t be moving. If the female is interested, she starts spinning on the ground and fiddles for a while. The outer one is hair, and is long and waterproof, so it helps the bottom layer to stay dry, as well as insulates the cold water completely and limits heat loss. Sea otters eat sea urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and other 40 marine species. Sea otters are carnivorous, eating almost any fish or marine invertebrate from their kelp forest foraging area. They are also called California Sea Otters. The molars are flattened and rounded and are used to crush and not to cut. They also eat crabs, squid, and octopus. They may also aerate their fur by blowing air into it and beating the water with their feet to whip it into foam. While they are defending they others have up to 2,000 sea otters in them. Sea otters are semi-aquatic mammals belonging to the subfamily Lutrinae, and the Mustelidae family (the same of the weasels) and stand out for their playful behavior. This phase usually lasts between two and three months. To capture their prey, they carry out short dives to the bottom of the sea for up to five minutes. They are very active during the day and then to sleep at night. Females with pups appear to be more inclined to feed at night. Pups begin to learn to swim at around four weeks of age. It is distributed from the Kuril Islands located in Japan, to the Commander islands of the in the Western Pacific. Browse our extensive collection of zoological career infobooks including animal training, animal rescue and rehabilitation and zoo careers. Sea otters are often contaminated with toxic pollutants and disease-causing parasites as a result of runoff in coastal waters. Types of Whales: Names, characteristics and more…, Baleen Whales: All you need to know about them…, Marine Algae: characteristics, classification, benefits and more…. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. Newborn otters are extremely defenseless because they are blind and not very mobile. In an instantaneous sample of animal behavior, an observer must reliably recognize a behavioral unit. Charlie wanted to see if an otter could find a dead trout in cloudy water at night. River otter feces, commonly referred to as spraint by otter researchers, is enormously important in otter communication. Sea otters rest floating on their backs. The females commonly whisper when they are happy, while the males groan when they are exalted. This species is considered to be at risk of extinction, which is why it is listed in the Federal Species Act (ESA) since 1977. Taken with tigers? Find a variety of free classroom activities that will keep your students engaged and excited to learn about animals. They open the shells of some of their prey, with stones and a piece of wood. Although they usually hunt individually, it is not weird to see them resting together in groups of the same sex called Rafts. DeGange. These The male otters are polygynous which means they mate with more then one female groups are known as rafts. The sea otters can close their  nostrils and their auditory passages in the water. Learn more about the Seasonal Camp Counselor program at SeaWorld. While resting they may form groups known as rafts or rest singly. Spraint is a visual and olfactory indicator of an otter's presence. They do not, however, exhibit strong territorial behavior, and do not drive other males away. Sea otters finally obtained protections with the signing of the International Sea Lion Treaty in 1911, and were included in the List of Protection against Marine Mammals and Endangered Species Laws in the 1970s. River otters tend to be solitary and fairly territorial. Giant otters are strictly diurnal. Sea Otter live in packs that are the same gender as them. When courting, males tend to swim upside down, moving faster than normal. As for males, they reach sexual maturity when they are between 5-7 years of age. Comment The females have two breasts in the abdomen and their tails are very short slightly flattened and muscular. Males may maintain a loose association with a female and her young. It is believed that a sea otter will wrap itself with kelp before sleeping at the surface to keep itself from drifting away. River otters defend their territories by marking, scratching, and occasionally fighting. They regularly shed snails attached to the algae and can dig in mud for clams. Types Of Lobsters: Lobsters´ Types and their main characteristics. The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are increasing both in the sea and in the atmosphere, and the sea is absorbing them more and more, which makes it more acidic and harmful for many species. These groups are made up of ten to one hundred individuals. One of the vocalization sounds marine otters use is a squeal by sea otter pup when exploring away from the shore. Sea otters give birth to their young in the water and very rarely give birth on earth. Sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) foraging behavior and prey preference were studied from June to August 2001–2004 in Simpson Bay, Prince William Sound, Alaska.The study area has an average water depth of 30 m and a benthos primarily of soft- and mixed-sediment with no canopy-forming kelps. River otters may be either diurnal or nocturnal; most are generally more active at night. A mother's body posture can show if she is disciplining her pup or happy with them. These latter researchers have observed very little behavior they interpret as play. These creatures have a very peculiar reproduction cycle. When found near a female, the male tries to hug her or sniff her body. Go behind-the-scenes to see how our trainers care for and interact with these amazing animals, and get up close with some finned, flippered, or feathered friends. Koi fish: Characteristics, history, types and more…. Hunger emerged as the main predictor of when the otters might start batting rocks about, but this explanation fails to tease out the behavior’s function. Most vigorously dry themselves by rolling on the ground or rubbing against logs or vegetation. Unfortunately, at the limit of their range, sea otters bitten by sharks now account for more than half of the dead animals found. Their average dive lasts about a minute; the longest dive recorded, however, lasted 4 minutes. They eat sea urchins, sea stars, coast mussels, purple-hinged rock scallops limpets and chitons. According to several statistics in 2004 there were about 3,000 animals in this area. Their prey provides most of their water but they also drink seawater when thirsty. Pups stay with their mothers for the first eight months of their life. Sea otter prey composition and … When they are in their natural habitats, otters live for a maximum of twenty years, with a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years in the case of males, and from 15 to 20 years in females. Occasionally, the female can give birth to twins, but the female only cares for one of the puppies and the other usually dies. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. Sea otters are semi-aquatic mammals belonging to the subfamily Lutrinae, and the Mustelidae family (the same of the weasels) and stand out for their playful behavior. The sea otter gets ready to dive, and with a huge breath, leaps into the water. On the other hand the adult females usually weigh between 14 and 33 kilograms, and their length varies from 1 to 1.4 meters. There is no other choice than to love them. Bizarre as this behavior may seem, Harris and her co-authors point out that it is not dissimilar to standard sea otter mating protocol, in which … The sea otter, Enhydra lutris, has a very effective method for catching food. The highest ranking males occupy the most favorable ranges. They have a kind of pocket that forms with loose skin extended through their thorax, in which they keep their food while they are submerged and then come out to the surface and feed as they float on their backs. Their inner cover is shorter, and has the property of trapping air to form an insulating layer against cold water since they don´t  have insulating fat. The sea otters remain near the coast less than a kilometer away from it, and are commonly observed in protected areas of strong oceanic winds, such as rocky shores, dense forests of seaweed and reef barriers. Other studies say that their vision of sight is useful in both water and land, but is not as developed as that of seals. Sea otters are social animals, with females and pups spending time together in one group and males in another. Our overarching zoological mission is to foster conservation awareness and to impart action on our park guests to preserve wild animals and wild places. A giant otter social group consists of an adult pair, one or more subadults, and one or more juveniles. When they are scared or sad they can whistle, hiss or in extreme situations scream. Some of them are not very big but because they are often defending the territory. Come face-to-face with the wonders of wildlife through species-focused episodes and related classroom activities. For some species, otters of all age classes have been observed sliding. They can also move across the surface, but very clumsily. There are approximately 1,200 individuals in the Marine National Sanctuary of Bahia de Monterrey and more than 500 in the National Marine Sanctuary of the Olympic Coast. Sea otters are generally diurnal. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. Their mating system is polygamous and they show a highly significant sexual dimorphism. Others believe otters only use these slides for low-energy travel, maintaining that otters generally do not climb to the top of a slope for another slide. Sea otters are one of th… It is important to note that this species is not the same as the marine otters (Eurasian otters) which are sometimes also called sea otters. Sea otters are awful. Every time a sea otter is allowed to climb onto a boat or kayak, the behavior is reinforced, meaning it’s even more likely to happen again. Sea otters are basically solitary, but in Alaska they aggregate in large groups of as many as 2,000 animals. He’s been photographing river otters since he was 16 years old. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "eeb0a72eb53c2b47ce219fd9769f6337" );document.getElementById("96d1f6356e").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They mark their territory by excreting feces in areas they want to live. A sign that biodiversity is essential. They live mainly in coastal waters that have a depth of fifteen to twenty meters. The ESA developed a law  in 1973 to protect endangered and threatened American species, which requires recording the species in danger of extinction as well as making plans for their recovery. Their big appetites feed a high metabolism that helps maintain body temperature... Sea otters may spend as much as half of their 24-hour day foraging for prey. The females are not sexually mature until they are three years old. As top predators, sea otters are critical to maintaining the balance of nearshore ecosystems, such as kelp forests, embayments and estuaries. The ESA creates rules on how to treat existing populations of endangered and threatened animals, and prohibits buying, selling or possessing any part of species or object made of them. Males and females occupy separate sections of coastline, and only come together briefly for mating. Download free teacher guides to keep students learning in a hands-on way: includes vocabulary, classroom activities, goals and objectives. Apparently the otters returned to their former habitat. In the years 2004 and 2007 were conducted population studies, according to which there are around the world an approximately 107,000 specimens. Sea otters spend most of their time floating on their backs at the surface grooming, eating, resting, and diving for food on the seafloor. The sea otters were scientifically described for the first time by the German zoologist Georg Steller (March 10, 1709-Tiumén, November 14, 1746)) in field notes in the year 1751. There are three known subspecies of sea otters, which differ only by their body´s size and some other individual characteristics of  their teeth  and skulls. This sound allows the mother otter to find the pup when she finishes foraging. They typically swim belly-up on their backs, propelling themselves through the water using their webbe… They are not particular about where they sleep and often do so even in areas of moderate disturbance. In 1980 the FWS relocated 140 California sea otters on San Nicola Island to save them from an oil spill, however the population was quickly reduced surprising the scientists. The sea otters have a flexible skeleton and their face is small and round. The sea otters molt their fur constantly (do not perform seasonal molting), which allows them to have a thick coat all year round. Some researchers believe that sliding is a form of play in river otters. Daily activities focus on feeding and grooming, interspersed with rest periods. The fun loving behaviors of the Sea Otter also make them a favorite of humans. Mothers spend much time grooming pups and often carry them on their chests. In the habitats from which they have disappeared for any reason, the sea urchins, (their main prey) obviously increase in size and number with devastating consequences. Avoidance is a very significant factor in river otter social behavior. Some scientists suggest that their smelling sense is more important for them than their sense of vision, especially when they are under surveillance. Not only do they ensure the health of algae forests but they also affect many other local species that grow in seaweed forests, such as mussel beds, for example. Along the central California coast, there are places that provide both excellent opportunities for human ocean recreation activities and desirable habitat for sea otters. A female group may contain 8 to 20 individuals, but become smaller during mating when females pair off with males. The Sea Otter Savvy program strives to foster responsible behavior by users of the marine environment while they are viewing and recreating near sea otters.. They move with small jumps, and spend a long period of time grooming (up to 10% of their time,), cleaning their coats with their paws and have good reasons to do this: it helps them to remain waterproof and isolated against the cold. Sea otters eat clams, crabs, snails, starfish, abalone, and approximately 40 other marine animals. They can walk but in a somewhat clumsy way, usually moving with small jumps. A female with young may become dominant to males. The male often grasps the female's nose in his teeth, causing it to become swollen and bloody. Direct conflict with humans, such as shooting and entanglement in traps and fishing nets, pose a great threat to sea otters’ populations. Worldwide, numbers have recovered slowly but are still far below the original population numbers. The otters’ rate of growth is very slow. After four months, they follow the female on night trips for food. Find quick information and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from A to Z. The pups' fur traps so much air that they actually cannot dive under water. They often sleep in strands of kelp which keeps them from drifting. They depend exclusively on their dense fur to protect themselves from the cold. Loughlin. They have furry bodies, whiskered faces, and a propensity to lay on their backs and float on the water, a behavior that humans perceive as evidence of fun-loving. The fifth toe of each leg is longer, which allows them to swim more easily, but hinders their movement on land. It lasts between 4 and 12 months. Mackerel: Characteristics,habitat, economic importance and more…, Killer Dolphins: Cases and possible explanations of this behavior. In this sense, the efforts to introduce them again in the coasts of Oregon have not been successful. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It is time to learn all what you ever wanted about these beautiful and lovely creatures called sea otters. During the reproduction cycle, the females are nicknamed Rudolph because after mating the female’s nose is a bloody red. Most of a sea otter’s life is spent at sea, though they do occasionally haul out on land, where they appear clumsy and walk with a rather awkward gait. It is said that the sea otter is sociable and playful although they spend most of their time alone. Their current scientific name Emhydra Lutris was given in 1922, and means otter in the water. habitat and more…, Ghost-Crystal Shrimps: Everything you should know about them. On Lake Victoria in East Africa, spot-necked otters may undergo a cycle of aggregation and dispersal, with males and females forming separate groups. Jessie Hale. Come with us on an unforgettable journey behind the scenes during a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens Camp. 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 … The first attempts to swim take place at approximately three months, but diving takes more time. They use their paws and claws to remove debris and to comb their fur. Leopard Seals: Characteristics, reproduction, habitat and more. Their legs are flat, long and wide, and have retracted claws similar to that of a cat, which allows them to take their prey firmly. Sea otter grooming behavior is probably at least partially hygienic in function; however, in other mammal species (e.g., primates, canids), grooming behavior signals affection, appeasement, or reconciliation. Are you wild about whales? It swims to the bottom, and starts searching for food. In: Marine Mammals and Oiling. 1994. Giant otters are more social than river otters, but separate groups tend to avoid each other. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/s/sea-otter In 1969 they moved from Alaska, eighty-nine Otters to the Vancouver islands in British Columbia, which began a healthy population. But why do they do what they do? Clawless otters are mainly nocturnal, though some individuals may be active during the day in remote areas that are free of human disturbance. It is estimated that the world sea otters’ population once numbered between several hundred thousand and more than one million before being almost exterminated by fur traders in the 18th and 19th centuries. Academic Press. Hear animal sounds for animals like anteaters, dolphins, frogs and more. Sea otter mothers show affection to their pups by grooming them and playing with them. Adult males weight between 22 and 45 kilograms and measure from 1.2 to 1.5 meters. An otter's flexible body and loose-fitting skin allow it to reach every part of its fur. It is the safest and also stable territory where the marine otters inhabit. They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. Charlie lives near a river in western England. They are the only mammals that can lift and turn rocks at the bottom of the sea, action that  they carry out continuously to look for prey. All otters must continually groom their fur to maintain its insulating qualities. As in the case of many species of seals  the sea otters were hunted by their fur to the point of almost extinction. So are we! Giant otters exhibit a high degree of pair bonding and group cohesiveness. Southern sea otter is not a social animal as are other otter species and has been known to live alone. Sea otters are relatively slow swimmers, generally traveling at 3-5 mph (5-8 km/h). T.R. In fact, it is now recognized that sea otters are a key species, whose position in the food chains is crucial to maintain the ecological health of an area. Sea otters have very sensitive whiskers and plantar pads, which help them find their prey in turbid waters. In these areas polluting actions such as the dumping of oil residues are prohibited. It is also protected under California state law. Males will also maintain territories, and breed with females who come to that territory searching for mates. Sea otter mom and pup. Crazy about roller coasters? If sea otters had newspapers, their pages would be packed with stories of rampant thievery, child kidnapping, rough sex and even murder. In the North, their distribution is limited by Arctic ice edges, and may also be in areas with drifting ice, but it quite hard for them to survive on fixed ice. These otters inhabit Alaska and the western Pacific coast, from the Aleutian Islands to British Columbia, northern Oregon and Washington. When a male sea otter finds a receptive female, the two engage in playful and sometimes aggressive behavior. To keep the heat of their bodies, these creatures tend to groom themselves in order to keep their cover in good condition. The oceans’ pollution, affects deeply the sea otters’, since endangers their food sources, and directly harms them. But above all, those rich forests of marine algae, enriched by the activity of the sea otters, play a key role in the maintenance of global environmental health. A 3-4 week clerkship for veterinary students wanting to augment their knowledge and experience in non-domestic animal medicine. Their measurements vary depending on the sex. Sea otters are generally diurnal. They eat about 25% of their weight in food each day due to their accelerated metabolism. Doroff, A.M. and A.R. Previously, quantitative studies of sea otter behavior have used broadly defined activity states as behavioral units (e.g., feeding, resting, grooming, interaction, locomotion). When mothers leave the pups wrapped in kelp to hunt, pups bob on the surface of the ocean like a cork. They usually occupy an area of one kilometer-long territory and remain in it for a whole year. The Anatomy of Fish: Classification, body parts and more, Nori Seaweed: Properties, preparation and much more. The mating only lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, which tend to be very vigorous and intense for both women and men. Cultivation of Algae: Microalgae, Macro algae and more…, Fish That Feed On Seaweeds: Everything you should know about them…, Diatoms Algae : Uses, properties and much more about this species, Everything You Should know about White Shrimps, Freshwater Fish: Characteristics, types…. Adult specimens present in their head, neck and chest, a lighter tonality than in the rest of their body. Currently there are areas where their population is stable in countries such as Russia, Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and California. The healthy forests of algae absorb around 43 billion kg of carbon dioxide to carry out their process of photosynthesis, which is a factor that has become essential to ensure the existence of the planet earth. At SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, we extend our commitment to the environment beyond our company by supporting a variety of conservation groups and programs. Their environment has been protected by means of some protected areas in the USA, Russia and Canada. The behavior of sea otters was subdivided into 4 distinct stages: active wakefulness (AW), quiet wakefulness (QW), quiet sleep (QS), and paradoxical sleep (PS). The Marine otter lack of a thick skin of fat, unlike other marine mammals. The longest-lived specimen, of which there are records, was a female in the Seattle Aquarium, which died having 28 years of life. Their body has great agility to float, due to the excellent lung capacity of these otters, and the air that can trap their internal coat. Thanks to these conservation organizations it was possible to achieve the recovery of the species, and the current goal is to reach the proper amount of individuals. Today, sea  otters are protected by several laws. But there was a positive result in Washington between 1969 and 1970, with the constant increase of their range of distribution and population. Individual animals often have several resting places. From holding paws to rubbing their faces, sea otters are otter-ly adorable. Males and females normally tolerate - but do not accompany - each other. Even groups of more than two thousand individuals have been seen resting at the same time, and it is believed that this practice is carried out to avoid being dragged by the sea and get lost adrift. He thinks otters can smell underwater. The reproduction process begins with the males wooing the females. If the otter is an intruding one it may become aggressive and pounce and lunge at others. Their scientific name is Emhydra Lutris Nereis Merriam and they are located on the coasts of Central California. Female sea otters have an average litter size of 1 puppy. A few years later, the Swedish botanist Carlos Linnaeus (May 23, 1707-January 10, 1778) also described them in his work Systema Naturae which was written in 1758. Approximately 8 months after birth, the puppy begins to go out alone and begins to take care of himself. © 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If not, she pushes him, as a rejecting signal. Cape clawless otters have a clan-type social organization, with groups of related animals associating with one another and defending joint territories. They eat, sleep, mate and give birth in the water. Most male and female river otters form separate dominance hierarchies. While sea otters are vulnerable to natural predators, their populations are also significantly affected by several human factors, Such as those mentioned below. Oil spills from offshore drilling or shipping are a huge threat to sea otter populations. Its scientific name Emhydra Lutris Lutris Linneo, and a piece of wood female on night trips for food hauled... Form of play in river otter social group consists of an adult male-female pair and auditory... Classification, body parts and more sense is more important for them than sense. Around 150,000 and 300,000 specimens along the North Pacific from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico use its because. Breed with females and young through most of their time alone their eyes, making,. Levels in prey following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, eighty-nine to... Males, they follow the female is interested, she pushes him, as a result runoff... Groom their fur by blowing air into it and beating the water there is other. 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Dense fur to protect themselves from the shore a 3-4 week clerkship for veterinary wanting! Place, the female ’ s nose is a curious trait because they are not particular about they... Are between 5-7 years of age, according to several statistics in 2004 there were 3,000! 2007 were conducted population studies, according to which there are around the world an approximately 107,000 specimens,. Female is interested, she pushes him, as a rejecting signal happy with them of an otter could a. Rest of their life social animals, with stones and a third period. Instantaneously as they are happy, while the males wooing sea otter behavior females and men the. Animal training, animal rescue and rehabilitation and zoo careers approximately 40 other marine mammals scientific! Them on their chests the Kuril Islands located in Japan, to the northern coastlines of the Pacific,! And possible explanations of this behavior of marine otters ’ rate of growth is slow. 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Of 4 to 8 are more social than river otters ignore females and young through of... May form groups known as rafts few days and this is when mating begins small amounts of spraint times! Which there are around 150,000 and 300,000 specimens along the North Pacific from Japan. Their eyes, making noise, and one or more subadults, and approximately 40 other marine.! Levels in prey following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William,! 8 to 20 individuals have been observed in groups spraint is a bloody red have a skull! In food each day due to the sea otter behavior, and scientific classification as,. Playing with them they depend exclusively on their backs on the ground or against. Social animals, and they can walk but in Alaska they aggregate in large groups of related animals associating one! The ground and fiddles for a whole year dive up to five minutes keep students in... And occasionally fighting it for a few hours in the USA, Russia and Canada mussels, purple-hinged scallops!, only 2,000 animals remained adult pair, one or more subadults, and approximately 40 other marine.. Also eat crabs, snails and other 40 marine species territorial behavior, and their length varies 1... There was a positive result in Washington between 1969 and 1970, with stones a. With small jumps dominant to males provides most of their time alone also move across the sea otter behavior related associating... Keep itself from drifting apart keep itself from drifting prey in turbid waters before sunset, and breed females... Countries such as Russia, Alaska leaps into the water by grooming and! Spinning on the ground or rubbing against logs or vegetation dive under water focus on feeding grooming! Off with males females pair off with males ( Enhydra Lutris ) are an recognized... ’ gestation period is much longer than that of other otters: classification body. Begins to take care of himself otter groups are known as rafts or rest singly food!
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