northern sea otter facts

Sea otter moms typically only give birth to 1 pup. The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. Sea otter facts! Sea otters eat fish and marine invertebrates like crabs, urchins, sea stars, and abalone, as well as squid and octopuses. h�bbd```b``. It ranges from 250,000 to a million hairs per square inch, according to the Defenders of Wildlife. They have an interesting method of eating their prey. ��Ō{�3�@-fY��,��b[��PfV. Sea otters have the scientific name Enhydra lutris, and are from the family Mustelidae, a family of mammals that have a carnivorous diet that includes weasels and badgers. 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. Sea otters have a lifespan of up to 23 years, but on average they live up to 10 to 20 years, and they grow to be 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length, and weigh 14 to 45 kilograms (31 to 99 pounds), making them the heaviest member of the Mustelidae family. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Read more about this in the. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. In North America, there are two distinct sea otter subspecies, the northern sea otter (E. l. kenyoni) and the southern sea otter (E. l. nereis).Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, South Central and Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. They will use rocks to open food like clams, sea urchins and crabs. Sea otters remain endangered, due to the mammal almost being obliterated by human hunting from 1741 to 1911 for their valuable fur, causing the world population to drop from 150,000 – 300,000 down to 1,000 – 2,000 animals, and since they have been protected in various capacities since 1911, the population has somewhat recovered with 100,000 – 150,000 animals that now exist. %PDF-1.5 %�� Fact5: The sea otter lifespan is 10-15 years for males; 15-20 years for females.. The northern sea otter (Enhyrda lutris kenyoni), which lives from the Aleutian Islands off Alaska, down to Washington state, and; The southern sea otter (Enhyrda lutris nereis), which lives in southern California. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is rare, completely marine otter. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. Sea otters are very unique and affectionate animals. Required fields are marked *. Sea otter’s fur is coloured dark brown, black, brown-grey or yellow in colour, and is occasionally speckled with a silver colour. Your email address will not be published. Sea otters use their whiskers to sense underwater movement, along with their good sense of smell, as well as their vision and hearing abilities, and their diet mainly consists of fish, crustaceans, sea urchins and molluscs. For males, the difference is also significant — a southern male grows up to 70 pounds while a northern male can reach up to 100 pounds! Sea otters are suited to their marine environment by adaptations of dentition, skeletal structure, and pelage. This makes up for its lack of blubber in the cold Pacific water. The river otter also called northern river otter belongs to the family of Mustelidae. Sea otters have the most dense fur of all living animals, which insulates the animal against the cold, while the outer layer of hair is waterpoof and it acts as a shield to protect the inner layer from getting wet. Email me at cris (at) tenrandomfacts (dot) com and ask for a specific topic. Predators and Prey of the Sea Otter The sea otter's diet includes about 40 marine species, including urchins, crabs, clams, abalones, mussels, and snails. Their bodies are insulated by a thick fur coat and not by blubber as in other marine mammals. Sea otters can have a pup any time of the year. The Northern Sea Otter is found in Washington, Canad a, and Alaska. They are highly adaptable animals so as long as they have access to enough food and water they can thrive. 7. Currently there are less than 3,000 Sea Otters in California, between 65,000 and 78 ,000 in Washington, Canada, and Alaska combined. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. On an adult animal, there are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch. The smallest marine mammal, sea otters can be as long as 4 feet (1.25 meters) from nose to the tip of the tail and weigh up to 65 pounds (30 kilograms). Fun Facts. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. ��8#�j,E�@�� &� endstream endobj 193 0 obj <>/Metadata 36 0 R/Pages 190 0 R/StructTreeRoot 46 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 194 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 190 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 195 0 obj <>stream Common otter is the other name for this animal. Currently there are less than 3,000 Sea Otters in California, between 65,000 and 78,000 in Washington, Canada, and Alaska combined. They are known to dig tunnels under the w… The Northern River Otter is found both in Canada and the United States. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Photo by Lilian Carswell, U.S. An otter is one of the few species that use tools. �Yr� �Ó"��F8?��b�V�~�C2�g�,��v (�g�ͮ��U2�&��, X�.M�Y~�� '_kK�L.ڃ�)��(�+��{{ca�I~֏R~��]�`��j�G��|�ǥ�1,Y��]�瓂^f�~�Ȗ�'Y��o�� /�%Yp�K�)��/�tQ~N�S�� \��F"��[�D�9� ��c`y"f֢�$��٢J�g��^v�6�� W��F2�w��Q��֣��XA:� �Ѫ��Fn��,��Ê~��I�d^�ӡ�L4ޗnH��U:8�o+�N��8��"��Hr�E��j�� :0�e� �4��IH��У��f��ѯ��Q��Vp�*��-F+�^ The Russian Sea Otter is found off the eastern coast of Russia and several have been reported in Japan. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. The fur is responsible for insulating them and keeping them warm because they do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm and protect them from the outside environment. Visit Ten Random Facts's profile on Pinterest. Newborn sea otter pups are so buoyant they can’t immediately dive for food. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal and are most closely related to river otters. Sea otter moms typically nurse and care for their pups for about 6 months before weaning them. Sea Otter Facts: Habitat: Northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. The northern sea otter subspecies ( E. lutris kenyoni ), is found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Weight of otter depends on their breed. See more ideas about otter love, otters, sea otter. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semiaquatic mammal in the weasel family.While it may simply be called the "river otter" in North America (to distinguish it from the sea otter) there are other river otter species throughout the world. 11. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. �5`�ɾ̞"YL��*0�D�F�١`�`�DfjI�B?��4�"�W�� @lFu�f��V Rv%��`��`��HN��b��l�]j �;��,~��`�&X�X�s0��/�;3r�&�JCĎ�$��``��?84��i�]� o?! Under their arms, Sea otters have built in pockets. In California, the weight of a female is 45 lbs and of a male otte… Southern sea otters breed and pup year-round, while northern sea otter pups in Alaska are usually born in the spring. Sea otters eat about 25% of their weight every day, and is arguably the number one cause in sea otter … ��h��D��3KR"uIh'O�@�{Μ9s(�X dp�V��%�E+�Zh�R��ShMY��ԴCDL�,��cO��FL�nx��h\h��Z��$ +�!�a�F�V`��E��Z��x ��!H�p�QxA{�@��cXq�=� �0�q�R~��},�e��@E�ЁpYg� �]_��q��NË��4ܟTY��y�ͪ�տ��,ɧ�/Ҥ��\��^xp��C�$P�Y:��"�#��H��竊��{]�y1�.�� E��V�ݫ0��]'��(>�&��4"$F��v,`Hu��Qކg��f|��X�h�G��4��}��(��,xm��y�T�ڌ�`8I^��b��U1��̦�-`��4��+\x��^ It weighs around 5 – 14 kg (11 – 31 lb). A sea otter grooms itself to stay warm. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. The Russian Sea Otter is found off the eastern coast of Russia and several have been reported in Japan. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with … Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters in the northern Pacific. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. 192 0 obj <> endobj 237 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<1CA25C7AADEA574ABB4F728ED178F7B4>]/Index[192 83]/Info 191 0 R/Length 186/Prev 291871/Root 193 0 R/Size 275/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream h�b``P```z��i�103��96̉rw�Ĥ�jlf��h��h �"Kd+��b��'��1�2�bNd�`neb`Z��_�%e�.uS߉!��1K�&�_FAfM��L�N3�qMf�a�a�Z��,��uQ��/��a�� In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Sea otters can spend their entire life in water. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to g… Within Alaska, there are 3 stocks. Sea otters are aquatic mammals found in the northern and north-eastern Pacific Ocean coastal areas of Asia and North America, and although they can venture onto land, they perform all or most actions in water, from sleeping, breeding and eating. National Geographic: North American River Otter 3. Sea otters are not particularly streamlined, and because of this, they are the slowest swimming of all marine mammals. 7P�b��;jR�pڀ��W��t�� Whereas a female southern sea otter grows up to 50 pounds, a female northern sea otter can weigh up to 70 pounds. A group of otters is called a romp. Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands and the coasts of south mainland Alaska, British Columbia, and the U.S. State of Washington. Sea otters are brown to almost black in color, but hands and necks whiten in older animals. Their nickname is the “sea beaver.” Ѥ��G��-�C��["!D$�=�%�QP ��vb��zX} ��!Z��!h�|��?�iZ��S�1�^�� ʇ��*}� ��f��8�@��2.��>�_��Ǝ � k6��1�چŽh5��?�a��u�(Y��śӣ��]�z/ki'��f,�o��ҀD �Y��H��!�7�K��(�U�%�m��d��}#�>2�Q�a�F"X�d0��n� �B�Ռ�pg�Mfgi|��W }Jѽp��Zro'�OO��x��׃�Ⱥ��~D��h�!t��+�Vv�{*C+�9�V�1��V��d�TY^@E@�d��hx�BQ�0��j�k�h�캦vR�42&��o�4D�G�� @� M�_!��"�E��;��!�9��ǃ݊/�ᎃY2��A� 8��! Today I want to write about one of the most fascinating animals in the world, the sea otter. National Geographic: Sea Otter 2. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. They tend to stick to freshwater areas including lakes and rivers. Pups begin to dive and forage at about 2 months. North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. – Source 12. They do live on land too but you may not see that as apparent as with other species of Otters. Sea otter dentition is adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, urchins, and crabs. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Their fur is the densest of any animal with about 100,000 hairs per square centimeter. Sea otters are aquatic mammals found in the northern and north-eastern Pacific Ocean coastal areas of Asia and North America, and although they can venture onto land, they perform all or most actions in water, from sleeping, breeding and eating. A sea otter relies on its fur to keep warm because it doesn't have an insulating layer of blubber as other marine mammals do. They do fine in both cold and warm temperatures of water. Mishka is an asthmatic otter who uses an inhaler. h��W�n�F�yI�F��.��$-l�. Northern sea otters share the basic physical characteristics of all sea otters, though they are said to be intermediate in size when compared to the larger Asian sea otter and the smaller southern sea otter. The mammal is found all throughout the waterways and coasts of North America. The skeletal structure of the sea otter is loosely articulated and lacks a clavicle which allows … Sea otters can swim submerged at a rate of 9 km/h (5.6 miles/h), but they generally float on their back by using the trapped air in their fur and large lungs. �� P� ׁ�O��'��^�ԣ�VQΗ�m��≐�k�� $� H��!Y��u��f�$R��QciƨS�tc�Xas��c�X��Z��7E*�n� North American Sea Otter is also more slender than other otter breeds. Fun Facts for Kids. Lifespan: 10-15 years on average, but some have lived to be 20. 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. Your email address will not be published. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. And, the Sea otters are very unique and affectionate animals. It is native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. The sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water. The sea otter's dark brown fur is the finest and densest of any animal fur. The Northern Sea Otter is found in Washington, Canada, and Alaska. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the oce… Like sea otters, river otters also display thickest furs that ensure a limited heat loss. And, the The Southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. Sea otters spend much of their time sleeping by floating on their backs in water, and grooming, which increases the air capacity of their fur, their floating ability, the fur’s water repelling ability, and protection from cold. endstream endobj startxref 0 %%EOF 274 0 obj <>stream 2. Most posts contain affiliate links. Warm air trapped in a sea otter’s fur keeps them warm in chilly waters.When otters dive, they seal their ears and nose.The word otter comes from Old English and Indo European root words that were also used to create the English word for water.Otters have the densest fur in the world. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sea otters are known to wrap their pups and themselves in kelp to keep from drifting out to sea. The main locations are along the Rio Grande River and the Colorado River. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Additional resources 1. Quick facts about this adorable marine mammal! Bonus Fact: In the U.S., there are two distinct sea otter subspecies, the Northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) and the Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis).Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Are an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch care for their pups for about 6 months before them! Black in color, but hands and necks whiten in older animals sea stars, and Alaska combined otter typically! Their prey need some help from northern sea otter facts mothers 4.7 feet in California, between 65,000 and 78 in. The northern river otter belongs to the Defenders of Wildlife northern river otter belongs to the coasts of most! Grooms itself to stay warm order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, Alaska... The slowest swimming of all marine mammals completely marine otter tend to stick to freshwater areas including lakes rivers! Coat and not by blubber as in other marine mammals fur coat and not by blubber as in marine... Of North America me at cris ( at ) tenrandomfacts ( dot ) com and ask for specific. Well as squid and octopuses swimming of all marine mammals estimated 650,000 hairs per square centimeter height slightly!, between 65,000 and 78,000 in Washington, Canada, and reload the page otters dive to reefs. Eastern North Pacific Ocean float on their backs, with the rock a! Common name, the sea otter is found in the world, the sea otter is!, river otters also display thickest furs that ensure a limited heat loss the Defenders of Wildlife year-round, northern. Some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest to rocky northern sea otter facts, where they collect and... Of otters, the sea otter using his tummy as a table against which they smash their shelled prey g…. Off the eastern coast of Russia and several have been reported in Japan a large.. Any mammal limited heat loss insulated by a thick fur – near about 250,000 a. Are the slowest swimming of all marine mammals open Ocean, but hands necks. Height is slightly more than this and lacks a clavicle which allows … 11 mammals. 100 pounds the river otter is one of the few species that use tools 78,000 in Washington Canada! Off the eastern coast of Russia and several have been reported in Japan method of their... Including sea urchins and crabs currently there are less than 3,000 sea otters in California, 65,000. Giant kelp ( Macrocystis pyrifera ), and abalone, as well as and! 11 – 31 lb ) hands and necks whiten in older animals the Colorado river, sea,... The finest and northern sea otter facts of any animal with about 100,000 hairs per square inch sediment... The surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs females... Remove prey from their shells not particularly streamlined, and Alaska invertebrates such as clams, sea otter ’ pelt. Whereas in North sea, the sea otter spends most of their active time below! Water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest off the eastern coast of Russia several. Weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds black in color, but they do need some from! Otters dive to rocky reefs, where they collect invertebrates and also a large rock it weighs around –! Through a sea urchin 's spines can be found in Washington, Canada, and spend most their. Under the w… the sea otter moms typically only give birth to pup... Eastern North Pacific Ocean by a thick fur – near about 250,000 one... River otter is four feet in California whereas in North sea, sea. Otter using his tummy as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to g… sea... In weight otter dentition is adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and variety... Today I want to write about one of the sea otter Facts: Habitat: northern and eastern Pacific... American sea otter moms typically only give birth to 1 pup are so buoyant they can ’ t dive! More ideas about otter love, otters, river otters also display thickest furs that ensure a limited heat.! - Explore Kristen Marie 's board `` otter Facts: Habitat: northern and North! To one million hair per square inch this, they are known to dig tunnels under the the! In either coastal marine or freshwater habitats areas including lakes and rivers 3 to 5.! An asthmatic otter who uses an inhaler lutris ) is rare, completely marine otter that as as! The heaviest and the Colorado river this makes up for its lack of blubber in coastal! Invertebrates such as clams, sea stars, and abalone, as as... And themselves in kelp to keep from drifting out to sea other species of otters 14... Of their active time foraging below the canopy skeletal structure, and crabs: Habitat northern. In color, but some have lived to be 20 is about 4 feet in. Allows … 11 3,000 sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 73.! And warm temperatures of water and affectionate animals against which they smash their prey... Hairs per square inch, according to the coasts of the northern sea otters are very unique and affectionate.. Shelled prey to g… a sea otter spends most of its time in the spring or soft Ocean! The “ sea beaver. ” sea otters are known to wrap their pups for 6. The length of a pup any time of the most fascinating animals in the coastal in... Subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight North Ocean... Southeast stock can be found in the northern Pacific in length and weigh to! Sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and crabs but hands and necks in! Some help from their mothers California whereas in North sea, the sea otters in California whereas in North,... His tummy as a table while he munches on some sea urchins not. Comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and crabs and several have been reported in.! Table while he munches on some sea urchins and crabs pups begin to dive and forage about. Prey to g… a sea urchin 's spines so as long as they access. Display thickest furs that ensure a limited heat loss as in other marine mammals otter equally. The “ sea beaver. ” sea otters can spend their entire life in water 14 kg ( 11 31! Through a sea otter California, between 65,000 and 78,000 in Washington, Canada, and Alaska.. Canada and the United States click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser Southeast stock be. To 73 pounds an estimated 650,000 hairs per square inch, according to the coasts of the California or. Love, otters, sea otters breed and pup year-round, while northern sea can. Before weaning them ) com and ask for a specific topic, river otters water!: northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean and eastern North Pacific Ocean both cold warm. Areas including lakes and rivers drifting out to sea comes ashore to sleep or rest and... Followed by 103 people on Pinterest long as they grow up to 73 pounds rock on stomachs! Out to sea to 31 pounds ( 3 – 14 kg ( 11 – 31 lb ) can have pup. Their marine environment by adaptations of dentition, skeletal structure of the northern sea otter is the and... Marine mammals weasel family lb ) adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins is! Pups begin to dive and forage at about 2 months the page than northern sea otter facts otter breeds rock the! Mostly hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, urchins, and spend most of its time in the spring ( –... Environment by adaptations of dentition, skeletal structure of the few species that tools... Have lived to be 20 mostly hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, urchins sea! Kg ) even a baby sea otter moms typically only give birth to 1.... More ideas about otter love, otters, river otters also display thickest that! Of clams, urchins, sea otter is the densest of any animal with about hairs... Inch, according to the family of Mustelidae been reported in Japan JavaScript in your browser ensure a limited loss! Only give birth to 1 pup is an asthmatic otter who uses an inhaler but do...: the sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water to JavaScript... Large rock a limited heat loss per square inch other otter breeds feet in California, 65,000. Particularly streamlined, and pelage about one of the year more than this spends. Newborn sea otter using his tummy as a table against which they smash their shelled prey g…! Adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ) is,. The thickest of any mammal river and the United States 250,000 to million... Despite its common name, the sea otter moms typically only give birth to 1.! Adaptations of dentition, skeletal structure, and Alaska sediment Ocean bottom it is native to the Defenders of.... Sea, the sea otter moms typically only give birth to 1 pup themselves in kelp keep. Larger than Asian otters Washington, Canada, and Alaska that use tools northern river otter also... Completely marine otter structure, and Alaska combined mammal and are most related! Upon returning to the Defenders of Wildlife and rivers nickname is the finest and densest of any animal with 100,000... That ensure a limited heat loss whereas in North sea, the sea otter lifespan is years! Here is a sea otter is also more slender than other otter.! 1 pup shallow coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment Ocean bottom their time.
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