Sea Otter Types

Sea otters are a threatened species and have faced near extinction, owing to the desirability of their luxurious pelts. In terms of diet, sea otters dine on crabs, snails, urchins, clams, abalone, mussels, and fish. They live between 15 and 20 years. North American River Otter.

Meanwhile, two and five other species are vulnerable and near-threatened, respectively. Habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change are key drivers of their declining numbers. The rarest otter species among them are Hairy-nosed Otters. According to research, the species has declined by at least 50 or more over the past 30 years.

Thanks to the protection of the 1975 Endangered Species Act and the diligent work of conservationists, sea otter numbers have begun to recover. Current population estimations of Californian sea otters place it at around 3,000, all of which descended from a small population of some 50 sea otters found off the coast of Big Sur in 1938.

While various species of otter live in the marine environment, only one species is known as the sea otter. This is a marine otter distributed throughout coastal regions of Japan, Russia, Canada and the USA. Such a wide distribution has led to the recognition of three subspecies, determined by habitat

All types of otters have fully or partially webbed paws that help them paddle and strong tails that they use to push themselves through the water. They can be anywhere between 2-6 feet in length, with large variation across species. These magnificent mammals have strong jaws and claws that help them hunt fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and mollusks.

Out of the 13 species, only the sea otter and marine otter inhabit the Pacific Ocean and thrive in saltwater environments, while all others live in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, and wetlands. Being semi-aquatic animals, otters prefer living close to a water source. Though river otters are expert swimmers and spend a lot of time

The sea otter Enhydra lutris is more than just a cute face.This marine mammal plays a pivotal role in maintaining the health and diversity of marine ecosystems. From their unique behaviors to their threatened habitats, there's a lot to learn and appreciate about these incredible creatures, and there's no better time to do so than Sea Otter Awareness Week, which takes place during the

We're about to dive into the world of otters. 2 Types of Otters In North America 1. North American River Otter Lontra canadensis Physical Description. Size 30 inches to 60 inches 76 cm to 152 cm Weight 10 pounds 4.5 kilograms to 33 pounds 15 kilograms

Sea otter, completely marine otter species of the northern Pacific, usually found in kelp beds. The large hind feet are broad and flipperlike. The thick lustrous coat is reddish to dark brown. The sea otter is the largest otter, reaching 100-160 cm 40-65 inches long and weighing 16-40 kg 35-90 pounds when mature.

The sea otter is the heaviest the giant otter is longer, but significantly slimmer member of the family Mustelidae, 6 a diverse group that includes the 13 otter species and terrestrial animals such as weasels, badgers, and minks.It is unique among the mustelids in not making dens or burrows, in having no functional anal scent glands, 7 and in being able to live its entire life without