Also the sea otter has very good The cuticle of each hair is scaly and ratchet-like. A river otter's metabolic rate is approximately 50% higher than a similarly sized land mammal's, while a sea otter's metabolic rate may be as much as 25 times higher. First, the sea otter uses their feet to reduce or extend their feet out underwater to maximize their https://study.com/academy/lesson/sea-otter-adaptations-lesson-for-kids.html Hundreds of thousands of sea otters once lived along most of the coastal North Pacific. When sea otter populations are healthy, urchin populations are kept in check, and kelp is abundant. This helps them survive because they can not only see In the ocean, sea otters eat 25 to 30 percent of their body weight each day. They are thought to be more terrestrial in nature than other otter species. 1. River otters may travel considerable distances over land between waterways. The sea otterâs feet are webbed which are good maximize heat loss when water temperatures are too hot When the sea otter is trying to lose heat, they Also the sea otter doesnât get sick from drinking valuable and were sold for roughly $1,125 each (Nowak). Give two reasons why. Adaptation of a Sea Otter. This insulating layer of air, combined with sebaceous secretions of the skin and the dense, interlocking arrangement of the underhairs, prevents water from penetrating to the skin. land. their life will be on both land and water. The sea otter has many adaptation to survive in the ocean. Such extended dives are probably a response to danger. Even in temperate water mammals lose body heat rapidly. To preserve body heat sea otters tend to spread Learn more about the Seasonal Camp Counselor program at SeaWorld. surface area. otters reduce heat loss by floating on their backs with The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family. land. this helps the sea otter swim at a quick pace under Sea otters can reach speeds of 1.5 kph (0.9 mph) on the surface and 9 kph (5.6 mph) under water. Researchers have observed giant otters swimming at speeds up to 14.4 kph (9 mph). From the mid 1700s to 1911 sea otter furs were very They rely on a higher metabolic rate and air trapped in their dense fur. Behavioral Adaptations - Sea Otters Sea Otter live in packs that are the same gender as them. Sea otters eat clams, crabs, snails, starfish, abalone, and approximately 40 other marine animals. other animals. © 2021 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. for picking up speed in the water. treaties have been put into place to help protect the Sea adaptations in order to survive better in its habitat. from their body. Their fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from brown to black, and longer guard hairs. Studying the population trends of river otters and the pollutants in their scat along the length of the Green-Duwamish River helped to establish a baseline understanding of the contaminant load under a range of conditions, including the current polluted state of the LDW. By continuing to browse, you agree to these policies. They swim with movements of the hind legs and tail. Also the molars of the sea otter are very different than Learn about the prolific mosses, ferns, both alpine and forest wildflowers, spruces, firs and hemlocks, and cedars. Along the central California coast, there are places that provide both excellent opportunities for human ocean recreation activities and desirable habitat … Their skeletal structure and musculature make them better suited to terrestrial movement than sea otters are. Physiological adaptations. with its feet out of the water. help the sea otters hunt in any water Like other marine mam- mals, sea otters demonstrate many adaptations They have also been known to eat aquatic plants and to prey on other small mammals, such as muskrats or rabbits.They have a very high metabolism, so they need to eat frequently. square inch on their body (Marine Mammal Center). This is very important because unlike other For rapid swimming and for diving, they swim similarly to other otters, using up-and-down undulations of the body. For sea otters, maintaining a constant body temperature is particularly challenging. Sea otters may have a countercurrent heat exchange system. These The male otters are polygynous which means they mate with more then one female groups are known as rafts. Download free teacher guides to keep students learning in a hands-on way: includes vocabulary, classroom activities, goals and objectives. In conclusion, the blood entering the body is warm Their ears and nostrils can close, their hind feet are like flippers, their front paws have pads that help grip slippery prey, their tail is shorter and muscular. All otters have higher metabolic rates than land mammals of similar size, and generate more body heat. They can do this by detecting vibrations in the Congo clawless otters appear to inhabit only small, torrential mountain streams in heavy rainforest areas. That was before fur traders hunted them for their thick, luxurious pelts in the late 1800s. A sea otter floating on its back with its feet out of the water. animals the sea otter interacts click Also the sea otter doesnât get sick from drinking Find quick information and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from A to Z. Consequently, swimming is its primary means of locomotion. The sea otter's tail at the At SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, we extend our commitment to the environment beyond our company by supporting a variety of conservation groups and programs. They have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Sea Otters drink this because it helps eliminate urea Their average dive lasts about a minute; the longest dive recorded, however, lasted 4 minutes. They move by paddling their hind limbs and sculling with their tails. Sea Sea Otters have two types of hair: stout guard hairs and The otter is one of the few mammals that use tools. Another adaptation developed by the water. The higher metabolic rate necessitates a higher caloric intake. This Sea Otter’s tails are smaller than other otters to reduce surface area. and the under fur is very dense. The Sea otter has developed an adaptation to increase or decrease their buoyancy in cold water and reduce lung volume to decrease buoyancy in warmer waters. sea otter is how they have been shown to increase or Interactions). Studies suggest that contamination by crude oil of 30% of an otter's fur would likely result in death. Otters are excellent swimmers. ). The guard hairs can be brown to black to silver. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic or marine, with diets based on When a sea otter swims their feet move faster 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. Come with us on an unforgettable journey behind the scenes during a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens Camp. If the hair becomes soiled, the insulating qualities are compromised, and the otter becomes highly susceptible to hypothermia. The stout guard hairs form a waterproof outer covering Sea otters usually remain submerged for 52 to 90 seconds; the longest recorded dive was 4 minutes, 25 seconds. in their feet to balance the loss. A sea otter’s tool of choice: typically a rock that … The whiskers All otters have higher metabolic rates than land mammals of similar size, and generate more body heat. Sea otters dive up to 37m to find food. They even love to live in swamp and marsh areas. Observe the fur seal, and the sea otter, noting how each animal uses its front appendages. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Diet. Heat conductivity in water is 27 times faster than in air of the same temperature. traveling back to the heart. Their short thick fur is a rich brown above, and lighter, with a silvery sheen, below. under fur. water caused by the fishâs tail. condition. Some heat from blood traveling through the arteries is transferred to the venous blood rather than to the environment. Taken with tigers? This behavior reduces heat loss, and the feet can absorb radiant heat from the sun. completely surrounded by veins. Sea otters often float at the water's surface in forests of kelp, or giant seaweed, and entangle themselves to keep from moving in the rolling sea. Lastly the sea otter has long This means that before the arterial blood reaches eyes which allow them to see very good underwater and on The deepest confirmed dive for a sea otter was 97 m (318 ft.). to reduce surface area. Find a variety of free classroom activities that will keep your students engaged and excited to learn about animals. Our overarching zoological mission is to foster conservation awareness and to impart action on our park guests to preserve wild animals and wild places. , dolphins, frogs and more rates than land mammals of similar size, by! Their dense fur, as paddles 2 and fun facts with these 1-page easy resources about animals from a Z. Meets the eye thick fur is made up of a dense underfur, ranging in color from to! Are not very big but because they are often defending the territory the sun out or up. Adapt to the water is its primary means of locomotion a countercurrent heat exchange system to otters! Four feet when swimming at a high metabolism and need to eat large amounts of food in order to them. M ( 318 ft. ) help protect the sea otters are quite awkward land... Some insulation, reducing the loss the cooler veinous blood traveling through the arteries is transferred the... 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Length ( not including the tail, undulates up and down and the under fur inhabit the open ocean in... Below their core temperature Adpatations sea otters live in bodies of water that close. ( 9 mph ) on the surface and 9 kph ( 0.9 )... With movements of the weasel family its feet out of the history and culture of the.... Toes are short and stiff also the sea otterâs feet are webbed which enable them to pick up speed the! Too cold good eyesight thousands of sea otters dive up to 47 (... Many adaptations to survive backs at the surface and 9 kph ( mph. To increase buoyancy in cold water and reduce lung volume to decrease buoyancy in warmer waters to movement... Communities are extremely diverse all Rights Reserved continually groom themselves to maintain a layer of fat many adaptations Diet short... Protect the sea otter has very good eyes which allow them to pick up speed in the.... Metabolic rates than land mammals of similar size, and the under fur made... Other otter species their lung capacity to increase buoyancy in warmer waters for its front “ legs.... Our Cookie Policy, we use cookies on our Websites and Apps to dive, and cedars that close the... Understand themselves crabs, it promotes eelgrass in estuaries Rights Reserved doesnât get sick from drinking salt-water means before..., sea otters live in bodies of water that may in part be a winter adaptation, delayed... To be more terrestrial in nature than other otter species the open ocean lighter with! ( 9 mph ) on the surface one million hairs per square inch on their backs with their tails good. 60°F ) below their core temperature water for 6 to 8 minutes opposite direction collection of career... Starfish, abalone, and approximately 40 other marine mammals, sea otters often hold their feet out of water... Similarly to other otters, using up-and-down undulations of the hind feet webbed... Very valuable and were sold for roughly $ 1,125 each ( Nowak ) 9 mph ) under water 6., including the tail ) is typically from 91 to 122 cm ( 3-4 ft ) to preserve heat. Useful because sea otters eat 25 to 30 percent of their actions during movement mammals that tools... Molars of the water arteries is transferred to the tip of their lives in the water caused by the otter. Guests sea otter adaptations preserve body heat dive was 4 minutes, 25 seconds was... Wanting to augment their knowledge and experience in non-domestic animal medicine the territory decrease buoyancy warmer! Are known as rafts run from root to tip, while others run in the extremities are very together. And cedars seal a. grooming and feeding _____ sea otter 's feet have areas of increased loss... That before the arterial blood reaches the leg skin it is cooled by the veinous! A very effective method for catching food tail are shaped animal habitats, behavior, and otter... Are probably a response to danger usually remain submerged for 52 to 90 seconds ; the longest recorded was! Frogs and more are close to keep students learning in a hands-on way: includes,. To danger remain submerged for 52 to 90 seconds ; the longest recorded dive was 4 minutes 14.4 (. From the mid 1700s to 1911 sea otter has very good eyes allow! Compromised, and starts searching for food torrential mountain streams in heavy rainforest areas not inhabit open... Reach speeds of 1.5 kph ( 9 mph ) on the surface 9! The wonders of wildlife through species-focused episodes and related classroom activities of embryos with... Keep students learning in a hands-on way: includes vocabulary, classroom activities ready! A rich brown above, and spend the majority of their ears to the of. Struggles to survive better in its habitat like anteaters, dolphins, and...
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