Animal Profiles
Mammals

Sea Otter

Enhydra lutris

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

The sea otter is a coastal North Pacific mammal that feeds mainly on marine invertebrates. Dense fur, rather than a thick blubber layer, provides insulation.

Enhydra lutris

Marshal Hedin from San Diego · CC BY-SA

At a glance

Location
North Pacific coastal waters, including rocky shores and kelp-forest habitats.
Habitat
Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Sea urchins, shellfish, crabs and other marine animals.

Classification

Common name
Sea Otter
Browse group
Mammals
Scientific name or taxon
Enhydra lutris
Taxon rank
species
Order
Carnivora
Family
Mustelidae
Genus
Enhydra
Source classification
Mammalia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Measurements

Size and speed

Length
1 to 1.5 m adult total length across sexes

Typical adult ranges. Source: Animal Diversity Web.

Three things to know

  • Fur provides its main insulation.
  • Resting groups are called rafts.
  • Individual otters can specialise on particular prey.

Habitat and range

North Pacific coastal waters, including rocky shores and kelp-forest habitats.

Appearance and adaptations

A dense undercoat and longer guard hairs hold insulating air near the skin. Males are generally larger than females.

Diet and behaviour

It dives to forage and returns to the surface to eat, rest and groom. Resting groups form rafts, and individual otters can specialise on different prey.

Sources

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