Sea otter
Enhydra lutris
ok. 1,2 mAdult individual
total length
total length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od pyska do końca ogonaMeasurement: side
- Mass
- approx. 14–45 kgDorosłe osobniki
Sea otter — size comparison
The sea otter lives along North Pacific coasts, including kelp forests. It often rests at the surface on its back. Exceptionally dense fur, regularly cleaned an
Silhouette comparison
Length
wzdłuż osi ciała · od pyska do końca ogonaScale for the stated dimensions · each animal is labelled
Total lengthScale in m
00,511,5
approx. 1.2 m
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Sea otter — size comparison — facts and sources
The sea otter lives along North Pacific coasts, including kelp forests. It often rests at the surface on its back. Exceptionally dense fur, regularly cleaned and aerated, protects against heat loss.
It dives for sea urchins, bivalves, crabs, snails and fish. Prey may be handled while floating; some otters use stones to break hard coverings. By eating sea urchins, they reduce pressure on kelp forests in many places.
A female intensively cares for her pup and may carry it on her belly while resting. The pup remains near the surface when she dives. It gradually learns to swim, dive and feed independently. Strong dependence on fur makes oil pollution particularly dangerous.