Sea otters were hunted extensively in the past for their luxurious fur, leading to a dramatic decline in their population and a need for protection. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a thick layer of blubber and rely upon their water-resistant fur for insulation. Listed as a threatened species, southern sea otters are still vulnerable, especially to the risk of oil spills. Here they eat, reproduce, rest, or do any other social interactions. 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 spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Otters do not usually fly. Sea otters are well adapted to marine life. Otters are accustomed to preying on live animals; hunting is an integral part of an otter’s life. (Viewing Tip: Early morning is otterly pawesome!) Kamchatka beavers do not form permanent pairs, males do not compete with each other and can mate with several females. Local sea otters are accustomed to boats, so there is excellent viewing in the small boat harbor with one or two otters often frequenting the entrance area between the jetties. But if sea otter elders in Checleset Bay told floating bedtime stories to modern day pups, they might tell of their ancestors’ bizarre flying adventure. SEA OTTER LIVE CAMERA. Where do Sea Otters Live? Sea otter: Illegal to own under the Marine Animal Protection Act. Sea otters once ranged from Mexico to Alaska and even to Japan. Are sea otters friendly? Animal Adoptions make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, graduations, celebrations, for the animal lover in your life and just because you care. 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. Some are almost exclusively aquatic, like the sea otters that live in the Pacific ocean, and some spend more than half their time on land, like the giant otter that lives in the tropical rain-forests of South America. They also tend to live on the east coast of Russia and Japan. Where Do Sea Otters Live? June 12, 2017. admintag. It is mostly solitary, and only rarely do groups of more than three animals occur. The sea otters inhabit the North Pacific from northern Japan to Baja California in Mexico. Their main habitat is on the land near to water bodies. Sea otters at the Vancouver Aquarium, Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Because they are so well insulated, sea otters do not require a layer of blubber for survival like other marine mammals do. In Alaska, they range from Southeast Alaska, through Prince William Sound, the Kenai Fjords, and the Aleutian Islands. Eat fish, crayfish, bugs, rats, and birds. River otters hunt visually while chasing fish, but they use their manual dexterity to dislodge crabs and crayfish from under rocks. They live mainly in coastal waters that have a depth of fifteen to twenty meters. The marine otter is really a freshwater otter that has learned to occupy marine environments in South America. Giant otters (genus Pteronura) are found mainly in slow-moving rivers and creeks within forests, swamps, and marshes. Sea otters inhabit shallow coastal areas and prefer places with kelp. Kamchatka beavers do not form permanent pairs, males do not compete with each other and can mate with several females. Although sea otters can walk comfortably on land, they prefer to live solely in the ocean. It prohibits commercial harvest of sea otters, and allows Alaska natives to hunt sea otters for subsistence and creation of handicrafts. Feeding times are subject to change, and narrated feedings are canceled. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? Otters live in a wide variety of watery locations, from the mighty Amazon to the heart of Singapore. Two species are marine, with the others living predominantly in fresh water. However, when fish is scarce, they eat insects, frogs, birds and other mammals like rodents. otter - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), otter - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Back to the top. 9. What’s for Dinner – A sea otter’s favorite food is sea urchin, the horribly spiny little echinoderm (which ironically enough means “spiny skin”). Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Sea otters are sea mammals native to the eastern and northern parts of the North Pacific Ocean. Just as estuaries can be good places for sea otters to live, in turn the otters can boost the health of estuaries. Sea otters mainly eat sea urchins, crabs, clams, mussels, octopus, other marine invertebrates, and fish. Young otters (pups) may fall prey to large raptors, and various carnivores may kill adults traveling on land. It helps to bring them to life instead of just being something they see on TV or read about in books. There is no specific breeding season in otters, so mating between animals occurs at any time of the year. Southern sea otters can live to approximately 15 years for males and 16 years for females. There is a much larger population in Alaska, and sea otters are still found in Russia. Such stations may facilitate communication between individuals. Otters are part of the Mustelidae family, which is a family of … Eurasian otters are indigenous to the UK and can be found in either fresh or salt water, although it’s usually known as the river otter for the obvious reason. Sharks and killer whales eat sea otters on occasion. Sea Otters do not live in deeper waters because then it is a longer dive for them to catch their food. The sea otters usually live near the shore waters of the North Pacific, from Japan, north to the coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, then from Alaska down along the Pacific coast of North America to Baja, California. They even love to live in swamp and marsh areas. North American river otters were hunted and trapped extensively for their fur in the 19th and 20th centuries, and are still hunted in some places. (See also Adaptation). The majority of sea otters live in the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the five main biomes. Sea otters are shallow coastal water dwellers, as it is easier to adapt to. Because otters eat mainly fish, you’ll generally find them in areas where there are plenty of this food source. First, this helps with educating the public about them. Did you know you can symbolically adopt your favorite otter? Most otters live in dens — built by other animals, such as beavers — that are dug into the ground that have many channels and dry inner chambers. Most river otters are opportunistic, feeding on whatever is most easily obtained. 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. Marine otters occupy the intertidal zone that covers the first 100–150 metres (roughly 330–500 feet) of coastal water and about 30 metres (100 feet) inland. Most species are entirely dependent on aquatic habitats for food. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Otters are found on every single continent in the world except for Australia and Antarctica. They typically follow the shortest route possible and often establish much-used trails. Many sea otters live near rocky sea bottoms and shorelines, where marine communities are extremely diverse. A Sea Otter's Diet Most otters live in dens — built by other animals, such as beavers — that are dug into the ground that have many channels and dry inner chambers. These can grow up to 6 ft long, almost 2 meters, and have a nasty bite, so you probably wouldn’t want to own one anyway! The slough and wetlands, adjacent to the Monterey Bay, provide critical habitat for hundreds of species, including sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, great egrets and brown pelicans. Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae—a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and semi-aquatic forms such as weasels, badgers, skunks, fishers, minks, and river otters.Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with the others such as thick fur and short ears. Otters prefer to live in bodies of water that are close to land offering them wetlands or the woods close by. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are classified as marine mammals.They live along the Pacific coast of North America.Their historic range included shallow waters of the Bering Strait.It also included Kamchatka, and as far south as Japan.Sea otters have about 26,000 to 165,000 hairs per square centimeters of skin. The range of the Russian or Asian sea otter extends from northern Hokkaido, Japan to the Commander Islands in the western North Pacific. Some are almost exclusively aquatic, like the sea otters that live in the Pacific ocean, and some spend more than half their time on land, like the giant otter that lives in the tropical rain-forests of South America. The sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water. In southern Chile the marine otter is found almost exclusively along exposed rocky seashores; farther north it may inhabit estuaries and fresh water. North American river otter – This species is found throughout much of Canada and parts of the United States. Where do Sea Otters Live? Sea otter is scientifically known as Enhydra Lutris. Currently, the California population numbers around 3,300 and is found from Half Moon Bay to Point Conception. They have a rich fur for which humans hunted them almost to extinction. They enjoy the freshwater but they are also known to live in the saltwater of the oceans as well. Female sea otters live to up to 20 years, while males live up to 15 years. They feed mainly on sea urchins, crabs, and various shellfish. People love to see the Otters and their playful activities. They have a thick fur coat that acts as their primary insulation. Sea Otters hang in groups called rafts; they usually hang out by waters near shore or kelp beds and where shellfish are plentiful. They all eat fish, clams, lobsters and small animals occurring along the shore. They are native to the northern coastlines of the Pacific Ocean, from northern Japan to Baja, Mexico. River otters usually have 2 … Still, currently, they are habitat along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia, they are yet found in Russia. Sea otters inherit in the shallow coastal areas and prefer the places with kelp. Sea otters are highly social and can be found floating in ‘rafts’ of 10 to 100 individuals. By controlling sea urchin populations, sea otters promote giant kelp growth, as that species is a favorite of sea urchin grazers. Both rely exclusively on marine prey, although the sea otter can be found much farther offshore; the marine otter stays within about 100 metres (330 feet) of the shore. The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects sea otters. Their front feet are handlike and partially webbed. Sea otters prefer coastal habitats within a mile of the shoreline. They live the majority of their lives on the ocean surface in areas where water is less than 130 ft deep. Northern sea otters are found in the Aleutian Islands, South Central and Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Where do sea otters live? The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family and the smallest marine mammal. An abundance of sea otters swam in the waters here and hauled up on the shores, Ogden wrote, often congregating near the mouths of the many creeks that flowed into the bay. Alaska sea otters inhabit the coast of Alaska, including the Aleutian Islands, and south along British Columbia and Washington. They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators. They are able to stay well hidden in these types of environments which makes them less like to fall victim to a variety of predators on land. Otters are usually found no more than a few hundred meters from water. Omissions? Otters seem to do extremely well in captivity and they are simple enough to care for. Where Do Sea Otter Live? These furry marine mammals are one of only a few marine animals known to use tools to obtain their food. Sea otters are brown to almost black in color, but hands and necks whiten in older animals. Two otter species are strictly marine: the sea otter (Enhydra lutris) of the Pacific Coast of North America and the much smaller marine otter (Lontra felina) from the coast of Peru and Chile. Tune into our LIVE Sea Otter Cam for your daily dose of sea otter cuteness. Sea otters inhabit coastal areas and islands of the eastern and western North Pacific Ocean. Sea Otters need unpolluted nearshore marine habitats, usually having depths under 40 m, an abundant food supply consisting primarily of shellfish, and freedom from excessive human disturbance. It is unique among the mustelids in not making dens or burrows, in having no functional anal scent glands, and in being able to live its entire life without leaving the water. How Much Do Sea Otters Live? Sea otters, the marquee attraction at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, continue to draw crowds on the aquarium's live web cams while the facility is closed due to coronavirus. While in the water, they constantly search features such as logjams and deepwater pools for prey. Earlier sea otters ranged from Mexico to Alaska. In this manner, sea otters are keystone predators in the kelp forests where they live. Southern sea otters range along the mainland coastline of California from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County, and San Nicolas Island. But the sea otter’s habitat is unique, as they only live in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific ocean. They use kelp beds to wrap themselves or tie themselves up in and to find food. Their habitat is commonly  above rocky sea floors. The food sea otters eat can impact the entire ecosystem in which they live. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In natural conditions, sea otters live 8-11 years, in captivity – about 20 years. They rarely appear on the shore and sleep, rocking on the waves, on their backs, clinging to algae so that they are not carried away by the current. Swimming ability is further enhanced in most species by four webbed feet. The sea otter, one of the 13 otter species, is considered the smallest marine mammal in the world. Ain’t no party like a sea otter party! Fish are also eaten. When they are in their natural habitats, otters live for a maximum of twenty years, with a life expectancy of ten to fifteen years in the case of males, and from 15 to 20 years in females. The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter.African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. In order to capture food, sea otters dive to the bottom in 5 to 250 feet (1.5 to 75 meters) of water. Here they eat, reproduce, rest, or do any other social interactions. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. European otter – As the name suggests this species is found in Europe and extends across parts of Asia and North Africa. River otters (genus Lutra) inhabit all types of inland waterways, as well as estuaries and marine coves. Ocean biomes are filled with salt, which is not very suitable for humans, but very suitable for sea life. Otters are carnivorous animals and fish make up 80% of their diet. Most travel is aquatic, but river otters can venture swiftly overland between bodies of water. They are frequently found in protected harbors, barrier reefs, and kelp forests that offer shelter from wind and waves. Where do Sea otters live ? The sea otter is the heaviest (the giant otter is longer, but significantly slimmer) member of the family Mustelidae, a diverse group that includes the 13 otter species and terrestrial animals such as weasels, badgers, and minks. Most sea otters remain in habitats with rocky substrate, as their prey tend to be more plentiful in these areas. Sea otters live along the coasts and kelp beds of California, Alaska, and the Russian Pacific. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. This aquatic member of the weasel family is found along the coasts of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. Historically, Sea otters could be found from Japan, along the coast of Siberia, down through Alaska, British Columbia and the eastern North American coast. Females give birth in water to only one young, which remains dependent on the mother until six to eight months of age. Switch to SEABIRD CAM or SHARK CAM. The kelp acts as an anchor that the sea otters use to wrap themselves in when they are resting. SEA OTTER LIVE CAMERA. There are 13 species in total, ranging from the small-clawed otter to the giant otter. Sea otters live in the Pacific Ocean while giant otters live in the tropical rain forests of South America. Sea otters are spread around the colder regions of earth, in the ocean, hence their name, sea otter. Th… Otters in Zoos. They may mistake you for a threat. Sea Otters need unpolluted nearshore marine habitats, usually having depths under 40 m, an abundant food supply consisting primarily of shellfish, and freedom from excessive human disturbance. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Sea otters have been found to play a pivotal role in the habitat and marine life that inhabit a kelp forest. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership. They all eat fish, clams, lobsters and small animals occurring along the shore. LIVE Sea Otter Cam. Animal Adoptions make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, graduations, celebrations, for the animal lover in your life and just because you care. Updates? Sensory hairs on the snout called vibrissae also assist by sensing water turbulence. Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters in the northern Pacific. Scotland's Shetland Islands are home to a large otter population. Excellent and lithe swimmers, the young are in the water by 10 weeks of age. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. At night, sea otters may choose either to sleep on land or simply to rest afloat near beds of kelp. Other places you will find them lingering include around rivers, streams, and lakes. They rarely appear on the shore and sleep, rocking on the waves, on their backs, clinging to algae so that they are not carried away by the current. They live the majority of their lives on the ocean surface in areas where water is less than 130 ft deep. Ninety percent of the world’s sea otters live in coastal Alaska. Sea otters do have a friendly and charismatic personality, but even with good intentions, it is almost never a good idea to approach a sea otter in the wild. The other small part of their lives live on the ocean floor to … European otter – As the name suggests this species is found in Europe and extends across parts of Asia and North Africa. Director General, Cree Hunters and Trappers Income Security Board, Sainte-Foy, Quebec, Canada. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away. Diet. Otter, (subfamily Lutrinae), any of 13 or 14 species of semiaquatic mammals that belong to the weasel family (Mustelidae) and are noted for their playful behaviour. 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