Sea Otter
Enhydra lutris
1 . Food Chain & Habitat
- food sources- clams, snails, abalone, crabs, starfish, mussels, scallops, squid, chitons, small octopuses, sea urchins (MMC)
- sea otters find food by diving down against the sea floor (MMC)
- sea otters are carnivores (MMC, Wiki)
- sea otters prey mostly on mammal invertebrates such as sea urchins, various molluscs and crustaceans, and some species of fish. (MMC)
2. Description
- classification- mammal (NG)
- special body covering- two layers: undercoat and long guard hairs on top, brown to black fur, guard hairs can be a light tan color (NG)
- height- 4 feet (NG)
- weight- females: 45 lbs, males: 65 lbs (NG)
- communication- sea otters produce sounds and communicate vocally (NG)
- unusual characteristics- nostrils and ears close while underwater so that no water gets into them (NG)
3. Adaptation
- for protection:
- structures- teeth, good eyesight above and below water, communication of warning sounds by producing sounds vocally (Wiki)
- behaviors- speed, excellent swimmers (SW)
- for getting food:
- structures-teeth used for crushing and grinding, powerful legs to swim (SW)
- behavior- hunt in social groups, but they act differently towards humans and their social structure is not fully understood (KP)
4. Reasons for endangerment
- Sea otters are hunted for pelts of fur (BH)
- Due to lack of food for whales, sea otters become victims of them (BH)
- Disease (AL&HC)
- Oil spills (AL&HC)
- Boat props (AL&HC)
- Gill nets (AL&HC)
- Poaching (AL&HC)
5. Critical information
- Sea Otters are iconic species, representing the beauty and diversity of life in Monterey Bay (AL&HC)
- Good indicators at ocean health (AL&HC)
- Help keep ocean ecosystems in balance (AL&HC)
- To help Sea Otters, go green and minimize consumptions of fossil fuels that can cause oil spills
- The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1973 (AL&HC)
- The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (AL&HC)
- You can help sea otters by visiting the Pacific WildLife Foundation at http://www.pwlf.org/seaotter.htm and Saving Sea Otters (Monterey Bay Aquarium) at http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/sorac.aspx