# Sea Otter (*Enhydra lutris*) Sea otters are playful animals that live in the ocean. They have thick fur to keep them warm and use tools to crack open shells for food! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Enhydra lutris, Northern Sea Otter, Sea Dog, Southern Sea Otter ![Sea Otter](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424842/objects/3426.jpg) ## Appearance The Sea Otter has dense, dark brown fur, often appearing reddish or lighter on the head and neck. It is a stocky mammal with a short, flat tail and distinctive large, webbed hind feet. Its overall appearance is tailored for life in the water, with a streamlined body and whiskered face. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Enhydra ## Interesting facts - Sea otter moms teach pups to dive by blowing air into their fur so they float! - Their fur is so dense that each hair follicle can hold up to 100 hairs! - They have a special "pocket" under their arm to store their favorite rock tools! - When resting, sea otters wrap themselves in kelp to avoid drifting away! ## Special abilities - **Tool Master:** Sea Otters can use rocks to crack open shellfish because this helps them access tasty food like clams and mussels. - **Fluffy Warmth:** Sea Otters have incredibly dense fur that traps air, keeping them super warm in the cold ocean waters without blubber. - **Floating Feeder:** Sea Otters often float on their backs while eating, using their chest as a table to enjoy their hard-earned meals. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 100-150 cm - **Weight:** 14-45 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-23 years - **Speed:** 9 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 120-270 days ## Diet & Feeding They feast on shellfish and invertebrates from the ocean floor to stay healthy and strong. - **Age differences:** Pups nurse for several months, gradually learning to forage from their mothers before becoming independent. - **Primary Foods:** Sea urchins, Clams, Crabs, Abalone, Mussels, Snails - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Purple sea urchin (*Strongylocentrotus purpuratus*) — Keeps urchin populations in check. - **Eats:** Red abalone (*Haliotis rufescens*) — A favorite prey item in their diet. - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — One of their main natural predators. - **Depends on:** Giant kelp (*Macrocystis pyrifera*) — Protects kelp forests by eating herbivores. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch sea otters from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sea Otter? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Sea Otter? 100-150 cm ### How much does Sea Otter weigh? 14-45 kg ### How long does Sea Otter live? 10-23 years ### How fast can Sea Otter move? 9 km/h ### What does Sea Otter eat? They feast on shellfish and invertebrates from the ocean floor to stay healthy and strong. ### Where is Sea Otter usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Sea Otter hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Detroit Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/detroit-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Minnesota Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/minnesota-zoo) — Minnesota, US · Zoo - [Oregon Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-zoo) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [SeaWorld San Diego](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seaworld-san-diego) — California, US · Aquarium - [Shedd Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/shedd-aquarium) — Illinois, US · Aquarium - [Woodland Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodland-park-zoo) — Washington, US · Zoo [View all places to see Sea Otter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sea-otter) ## Watch - [Play video: Sea Otter](https://www.snappit.app/videos/sea-otter) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=FsTOSGpj7zI) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Sea Otter: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-otter)