sea otter fun facts

This ancient religion considered otters to be the dogs of the river or sea and had strict rules forbidding the killing of otters. Let us discuss some of the most fascinating sea otter facts and information. Sea Otter FUN FACTS. The sea otter is a well-known marine mammal with a historical range along the west coast of North America. Apart from these, they also tend to eat larger prey like giant octopuses and crabs. Mishka is an asthmatic otter who uses an inhaler. Its hind feet are webbed and flat so they work more like flippers. 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. 7 Fun Facts About Sea Otters. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. Amazing coats: Sea otters have the most amazing fur coat to keep them warm with up to a million hairs per square inch. Cuteness! 1. Sea otters have thick underfur that traps air to form an insulating layer against the chilly waters (they have no insulating fat). A group of otters is called a romp. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. – Source 13. Otters consume mainly fish but many people think that they eat plants and berries. Photo source: Wikipedia. Many otter species are at risk of becoming extinct. To celebrate the launch of our new SS18 collection featuring adorable otters, we’re giving you 10 fun facts about our furry sea friends for your little ones to share when they're wearing their new JoJo Tee! Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal species. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. A sea otter’s pelt is the thickest of any mammal. Otter species range in size from the smallest Oriental small-clawed otter at 0.6 m (2 ft) and 1 kg (2.2 lb). Ocean Conservancy, International Coastal Cleanup, Ocean Action Network, Trash Free Seas, Trash Free Seas Alliance and Rippl are registered trademarks of Ocean Conservancy. Msg & data rates may apply. In California, the weight of a female is 45 lbs and of a male otte… Sea otters are from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length and typically weigh between 14 and 45 kilograms (31 and 99 lb). Mobile alerts from Ocean Conservancy. Fun Facts about Sea Otter! National Geographic: Sea Otter 2. Text STOP to 69866 to stop receiving messages. 9. A sea otter rests on its back with its head, arms and flippers in the air, and looks like two lumps close together. It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week!! They are definitely meat eaters. The sea otter is the only species of otter that spends almost its whole life at sea, even though it rarely travels further than 1km (0.6miles) from the coast. The giant otter is the longest of the otters, sometimes reaching 7 feet from nose to tail, and weighing up to 85 pounds, but sea otters are much stouter and large male sea otters in particular are bulkier and heavier than giant otters. Sea otters have been known to stay submerged for more than 5 minutes at a time. Cuteness! Aug 29, 2019 - Explore Sammy Jo Reilly's board "Sea Otter Facts & Activities" on Pinterest. See more ideas about otters, sea otter, otter love. Incredibly this is fulfilled by drinking sea water! Sea Otter Lifespan: The lifespan of the male sea otters is about 10 to 15 years while the females live for about 15 to 20 years. 11. Otters are adorable creatures that live both on land and in the water. Four of the main otter species include the European otter, the North American river otter, the Sea otter, and the Giant otter. The sea otter can usually be found in kelp beds, and looks very much like lumps of kelp. They prey on crustaceans by using pairs of rocks to crush the outer shells, easily accessing the soft flesh inside. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. California sea otters spend almost all of their time in the water, while Alaska sea otters often sleep, groom, and nurse their young on land. The peak season for giving births is from May to June for the Alaskan sea otters while it is from January to March for the California sea otters. Its ears and nostrils are closed down in water. You can also get involved by becoming a member of Friends of the Sea Otter, donating money towards conservation work, or volunteering your time. Their basically tiny Michael Phelps. Sea otters are very social animals that can live in groups made up of hundreds of individuals. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. It is native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Learning Colors! The first sea otter was discovered by Georg Steller in 1751; Weighing as much as 99 lbs, the sea otter is the heaviest member of the weasel family; Sea Otters are the only marine mammal with out a layer of blubber; Sea Otters’ only marine predators are humans, great white sharks, and killer whales. 1. My dear friend Sherry and I have bonded over otters in a big way. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. They are found along the coasts of Alaska, California and Russia. Fun Otter Facts for Kids. Otter groups go by a few different monikers, all of which are fairly unique to that crew. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. / Fun Facts for Kids / 10 Sea Otter Facts For Kids. How do sea otters stay warm in chilly waters? Wild sea otters typically have a lifespan between 15 and 20 years. Guest Columns. The sea otter is one of the few mammal species on Earth to use a tool to help it hunt and feed. North American Sea Otter is also more slender than other otter breeds. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. The sea otter, however, rarely comes ashore, according to the San Diego Zoo. The sea otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat that insulates the animal from freezing water. It wedges a rock between its chest and the “armpit” of a foreleg and pounds shells against it to open them up. They usually weigh between 7 to 31 pounds (3 – 14 kg). 10 Amazing Facts About Sea Otters 10 Interesting Facts About Killer Whales, or Orcas 10 Awesome Facts About Cuttlefish 10 Fascinating Facts About Piranhas 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About Sea Sponges. Areas without sea otters have turned into ‘urchin barrens’ –areas with no kelp but hoards of sea urchins. Sea otters are social animals, usually found in groups, called rafts. September 23, 2017 Shannan Younger Leave a Comment. Funny! However, it is only once they were hunted nearly to extinction that we came to realize their value alive as a keystone species rather than a fur pelt. The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. Fun Facts for Kids. Learn where the otter lives, what they eat, what a group of otters is called, the names of various otter species and much more. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Unlike their cousins in other otter subspecies, who only have to dive to the bottom of rivers, Not only are they cute, intelligent and resourceful, but. The sea otter’s diet includes fish, crabs, molluscs, and sea urchins, and it has very strong teeth for crushing their shells. They inhabit shallow coastal waters of the eastern and northern pacific. Average weight of an adult female California sea otter is about 50 lbs. 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. Otters are adorable and easy to love. Sea otters are found in two areas : The Pacific coasts of Russia and Alaska, and along the central California coast. At birth, the weight of a pup is 3 to 5 pounds. They rebounded in the 20th century, and hopefully will continue to make progress in the 21st century. North American Sea Otters are larger than Asian otters. Males can weigh up to 70 lbs. Here are five interesting facts about them: These beautiful animals are the smallest marine mammals in the world, measuring just 148 cm long. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. These include mussels, clams, sea urchins, snails, mollusks, crustaceans and bivalves. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are an easily recognized and beloved marine mammal. Here are five fun facts you otter know: Our ocean faces many threats like the onslaught of ocean trash, overfishing and ocean acidification. Learning Colors! FUN FACTS Sea O tters consume from 25%-30% of their body weight in food each day. This inc… Otters have to eat vast amounts of food every day, which takes up a significant portion of their time. Post navigation. The increased time underwater improves otters’ … Terms and Conditions. Sea otters are distributed across North America and Russia. Sea otters eat about 25% of their weight every day, and is arguably the number one cause in sea otter deaths, when they cannot forage enough food… Read on and enjoy our interesting information about otters. Approximately 90% of the world’s sea otter population lives in coastal Alaska. We promise that you’ll be otterly entertained! The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. 1. See more ideas about sea otter, otters, otter love. All otter species appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, and only one is listed as "least concern." An otter’s lung capacity is 2.5 times greater than that of similar-sized land mammals. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! Hunted nearly to extinction by the fur trade, sea otters are endangered and currently exist in only a portion of their historic range. 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. Interesting Facts About Sea Otters!Otters are known to hold hands in groups - while they eat, sleep and rest, to prevent families from losing each other They have the thickest fur in the animal kingdom and are also the heaviest members in weasel family. Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. The Sea Otter is the only species that have a shorter and less muscular tail. It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week!! Sea otters are part of the weasel family. A female sea otter matures at the age of 3 to 4 years while the males reach maturity at 5 years. However, it is not uncommon to have twins. 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. They sleep or rest and even give birth to pups underwater. There are 13 species of otter found all around the world. Today I want to write about one of the most fascinating animals in the world, the sea otter. Jared and friends share with you the majesty that is the adventurous lives of the Sea Otters. Sea otters are the heaviest of the 13 otter species (giant otters are the longest). With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing solutions to save our ocean. However, the young sea otters may be killed by predators like killer whales, sea lions, great white sharks and bald eagles. The mother nurses her pups for about 3 to 6 months. Funny! They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. 7. Sea otters use rocks to crack open shellfish and clams to eat. Here is a sea otter using his tummy as a table while he munches on some sea urchins. There are many cute and cuddly animals out there, but not many can upstage the sea otter. It ranges from 250,000 to a million hairs per square inch, according to the Defenders of Wildlife. We’re dedicated to working with indigenous communities, legislators, scientists and people like you to advocate for science-based solutions to protect this fragile ecosystem. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! Sea Otters lick and fluff their newborn for hours, causing their pup’s fur to retain enough air to act as a floatation device. An adult sea otter’s coat can have more than 800 million hairs. Sea otters use rocks to remove prey from their shells. Sea otters will eat virtually anything they can get their little paws on. Because they are not exposed to predators, and do not have to forage for prey, they are provided with environmental enrichment in their habitat to keep them entertained. Where Do Sea Otters Live? When they come ashore, they are more vulnerable to predators like coyotes and brown bears. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammals and one of the largest species of otter in the world. Rather fittingly, these groups of sea otters are called rafts. Sea Otters have joined the ranks of ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses, and elephant seals, all animals that can contract influenza.According to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, sea otters living in a remote area in Washington state were carriers of the H1N1 virus. * Sea otters are a federally protected endangered species. Nowadays, sea otters are beloved due to their appearance and charismatic personalities. Animals and Nature; Otters In North America, they are found from Aleutian Islands to the Prince William Sound (IUCN Redlist). Sea otters mainly live in river basins. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. It’s key to their survival to eat such great quantities, especially for sea otters, as they use up so much energy keeping themselves warm. 1 Thirteen different species of otter exist all around the world. See more ideas about otter love, otters, sea otter. Ocean Conservancy is a 501(c)3 – Tax ID #23-7245152 – Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. Don’t let these little furballs fool you—. They are one of the few animals that use tools! The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest member of the weasel family. Sea otters sleep, rest, and usually swim by paddling with their hind flippers on their backs. Learn 15 more facts about these fascinating mammals. They spend almost their entire time in water. The Furriest of Fur Coats – Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal. A Sea Otter… The males of this subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight. Here are some interesting sea otter related facts for you. Interesting Facts About the Sea Otter. 2. Dense fur keeps the sea otter warm in the cold waters it lives in. Holding hands: Sea otters occasionally hold hands while they eat, sleep or rest to keep from drifting apart. In fact, by the 1920s, the sea otter was at the brink of extinction — it was even thought to be extinct for a time. Here are five fun facts you otter know: Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, with up to one million hairs per square inch of their body! 2. Fun facts about sea otters for Sea Otter Awareness Week. Heavy Drinker. Sea Otter Facts & Information Sea otters are members of the weasel family (Mustelidae). The otter is a carnivorous mammal in a branch of the weasel family called Lutrinae. They are definitely meat eaters. We all know that sea otters are pretty darn adorable, but here are a few fun things you may not know about them: Sep 18, 2016 - Cute pictures and fun facts. Baby otters, called pups or kittens, stay with their mothers until they’re up to a year old, or until she has another litter. Check out our range of fun otter facts for kids. Otter is a common name for a carnivorous mammal in the subfamily Lutrinae. The International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911ended the commercial fur trade and saved the sea otter population from further decline. 1. Sea otters have several adaptations that allow them to live in a marine environment. You can read here many interesting sea otter facts for kids. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! It has short tail and webbed-feet with retractable front claws. Description. Some are small river otters, and some are bigger sea otters. Get ready for some awesome otter facts and photos. Oct 24, 2018 - Explore Kristen Marie's board "Otter Facts", followed by 103 people on Pinterest. Male Otters are called boars, females are sows, and the offspring are pups. The Sea Otter is the only species that have a … OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! Sea otters are provided a varied diet while in human care. OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. They eat almost one-fourth of their own weight. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. After preparation, Sea Otters eat their food on the surface of the water, typically on their backs. Otters have to eat vast amounts of food every day, which takes up a significant portion of their time. A sea otter is a very friendly creature that can exist on land but which spends most of its time in the ocean. River otters, however, can hold their breath for up to 8 minutes. Sea otters feed almost exclusively on marine invertebrates. Dense fur. The giant otter is the longest of the otters, sometimes reaching 7 feet from nose to tail, and weighing up to 85 pounds, but sea otters are much stouter and large male sea otters in particular are bulkier and heavier than giant otters. The males of this subspecies weigh around 65 pounds while females are 45 pounds in weight. These marine mammals have a number of characteristics that make them perfectly suited for life at sea. Text HELP to 69866 for more information. Held every year during the last week in September, Sea Otter Awareness Week spotlights the important role of sea otters in nearshore ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean. Additional resources 1. While the title of cutest animal ever may be up for debate, we know that sea otters are definitely in the running. Most sea otters measure less than 50 inches. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is rare, completely marine otter. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. The normal litter size of sea otters consists of only one pup. (IUCN Redlist), Cookie Cutter Shark Facts for Kids – Cookie Cutter Shark Interesting Facts, Greenland Shark Facts for Kids – Greenland Shark Interesting Facts & Information, Megalodon Shark Facts for Kids – Megalodon Shark Facts and Information, Tasmanian Devil Facts for Kids – Fun Facts & Information, Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts for Kids – Australian Wedge Tailed Eagle Facts, Harpy Eagle Facts for Kids – Harpy Eagle Fun Facts. Forget everything you thought you knew about otter species. Despite its common name, the North American river otter is equally comfortable in either coastal marine or freshwater habitats. to hypothermia, and the possibility an otter could die. While the title of cutest animal ever may be up for debate, we know that sea otters are definitely in the running. 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. Male Otters are called boars, females are sows, and the offspring are pups. Otters eat 15-20 percent of their bodyweight daily. Through to the large Giant otter and Sea otters who can reach 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and 45 kg (99.2 lb). The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. Cute! Sea otters can hold their breather underwater for more than 5 minutes, and river otters can hold theirs for more than 8! From feeding habits to ecosystem maintenance, sea otters are more than meets the eye. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Otters eat 15-20 percent of their bodyweight daily. Generally, the male sea otters grows from 3.11 to 4.11 feet in length and weighs around 49 to 99 pounds. The sea otter also hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks and feed on their tasty insides. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. September 24 to 30 is Sea Otter Awareness Week. Some of the best known are the giant otter, the sea otter, the European otter, the Northern river otter among others. The sea otter population declined to approximately 2,000 individuals by 1911. Subscribe to Blog via Email Under their arms, Sea otters have built in pockets. Cute! National Geographic: North American River Otter 3. What Do Sea Otters Eat? Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! Here are some fun facts about sea otters. Tool use is an unusual behavioral trait … The pups of California sea otters are nursed for about 6 to 8 months while those of Alaskan sea otters, this period is 4 to 12 months. Share; Tweet; Email; By: Natasha Lehr. Whilst most of a sea otter’s water demand can be satisfied from the food it consumes they still need to drink some water. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. Periodic messages. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! – Source 12. navajocodetalkersadmin on December 18, 2014 - 3:55 pm in Fun Facts for Kids. This makes up for its lack of blubber in the cold Pacific water. 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 International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies them as “endangered.” Their numbers were once close to 300,000, but hunters pursued them for their pelts. They live in offshore forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and spend most of their active time foraging below the canopy. There are 13 species of otter found all around the world. Here are five fun facts you otter know: Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, with up to one million hairs per square inch of their body! When swimming, look for a body with sleek, dark fur instead of blubber. The sea otter once ranged from Baja California to the Pacific Northwest to Russia and Japan. 略 Learn more fun facts in our Marine Life Encyclopedia: http://bit.ly/32XMF0e Jared Sellick Sun, October 28, 2018 12:36am URL: Embed: More Awesome Content! It’s called “rafting” and it’s just one example of the sea otter’s awesome ingenuity. Interesting Facts about sea otters. 10 Sea Otter Facts For Kids. The sea otters are not very pleasant to the taste and so, they are not quite often eaten by predators. Sea otters can spend their entire life in water. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. Sea otter fur is the densest of any mammal at about 1 million hairs per square inch (We have 100,000 hairs on our entire head). Then, in the 1700s and 1800s, hunters and fur traders killed so many that the population was devastated. Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. 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. Even a baby sea otter can stay warm on the open ocean, but they do need some help from their mothers. Following are a few other interesting facts you might not know about sea otters: 1) Sea otters are of the smallest marine mammals that are native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. They are known to eat clams, mussels, crabs, octopus, sea urchins, snails, and fat innkeeper worms. Sometimes they hold hands so they don’t drift away from each other. Weight of otter depends on their breed. I recently found out that sea otters fall asleep holding paws and my heart has never been so full. Otters consume mainly fish but many people think that they eat plants and berries. It can be fun to test out your knowledge as you go. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. A Comment rarely comes ashore to sleep or rest was devastated to save our ocean animals in the.... Hammers rocks against strongly gripping abalone shells to pry them off of rocks crush! Board `` otter facts for Kids fur to keep them dry and,! Feed on their backs 31 pounds ( 3 – 14 kg ) how do sea otters inhabit temperate coastal with! Many people think that they eat plants and berries their hind flippers their! With up to 73 pounds with a historical range along the coasts of Alaska, and the offspring pups! Preparation, sea otters typically have a lifespan between 15 and 20 years & Activities on. 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