Learn About Sea Otters

Because they spend so much time in the water, sea otters have developed, or evolved, a thick fur coat to keep them warm. If their coat is damaged, they can freeze to death. A sea otter's body is sleek and well-made for swimming and diving. Its front feet are made for gripping. They are also webbed for swimming. Its back feet look like the paddles of a sea lion and end in arched claws. The undersides of their fin-like feet are covered in hair. A sea otter's strong tail is slightly flattened and thinner at the end, or tapered. It helps it to swim quickly and is also covered in hair.

The sea otter is about as big as a medium-sized dog. It grows up to 1.3 metres in length, and its tail is usually about 30 centimetres long. The otter weighs between 25 and 30 kilograms.

Sea otters live only in the North Pacific Ocean

Food

As well as fish, sea otters eat molluscs, and small crustaceans. But their favourite food is sea urchins.

Spread and habitat

Sea otters are found only in the North Pacific Ocean. Here, the sea is rich in the large seaweed called kelp. The shellfish that the otters eat also live in the kelp forests

Sea otters live irr family groups. They are very affectionate and playful together. After the male and female have mated, the single baby otter is born after about eight or nine months.
The birth takes place in a safe spot on the land. When the bab^
otter is ready, the mother takes it into the sea with her. She rests it on her chest, while lying on her back, anc grooms and licks it. The baby lies with its tummy up and tries to splash around. When it is older, the mother otter plays with her baby in the water. She may toss it up like a ball and catch it.
Young otters stay with their mother for a year or more. They leave when they are old enough to look after themselves.

Often, communication amongst these friendly mammals takes the form of touching and stroking. This is a mean: of telling a mate or a baby otter that it is accepted and cared for. If a baby is removed from its mother, the mothf whines to show her distress.