Sea otters

Suzi Eszterhas/Minden Pictures

Sea otters being cute.

There are many cute animals in the world, but one of my favorites is a SEA OTTER. Eulalia Baltazar says, “I think that they are cute, and they look really soft and I want to touch one. I want to pet one one day, but I know that’s not possible.” 

They spend most of their time in the water but sometimes go to the shore to sleep, or rest. 

Sea otters have webbed feet, water repellent fur so they can keep dry and warm, with nostrils and ears that are able to close underwater. 

Floating 

Sea otters often lie on their backs, floating while awake and asleep (they usually sleep in groups). Otters may sometimes also sleep above giant kelp forest, or giant seaweed in which they tangle themselves in so they won’t float away. 

The aquatic animals are carnivores, which means they eat meat or flesh of other animals. 

According to “Northern Sea Otter” by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, it states that an otter will mostly eat sea urchins, crabs, mussles, octopus, fish, and other marine invertebrates. An otter’s teeth are adapted to eating through hard shelled invertebrates. Or otters will place rocks on their chest and repeatedly smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal their easy meal inside. 

Reproduction

Sea otters only give birth in the water and a mother will nurture the young one while floating on their backs. They hold the infants on their chest to nurse them and teach them how to swim and hunt. Female sea otters typically live 15-20 years while male ones live from 10-15 years.

Sea otter coat

Are sea otters very clean? Why?

Because after eating they clean themselves in the ocean while cleaning their coat with their teeth and paws. But they have a very good reason to take care of their coat since it is water-proof. 

According to “Sea otters” by National Geographic, it states, “Sea otters were hunted for their fur to the point of near extinction. Early in the 20th century only 1,000 to 2,000 animals remained. Today, sea otters are protected by law.” 

They are usually dark brown, often with lighter hairs. “ In California, adult female southern sea otters weigh 35 to 60 pounds. The males reach up to 90 pounds.” says Sea otters by the Marine Mammal Center.

As you can see sea otters are very cute, small animals that deserve everyone’s admiration.