They are  found in north-western and south-western India; southern China including Hainan, a large island off the south China coast; the Malay Peninsula; the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; the Riau islands; and Palawan Island in the Philippines. Text HELP to 69866 for more information. Their back feet are used to steer them in the water. (Credit: Karen C Drayer Wildlife Center, University of California, Davis) Sea otters play a very important role in maintaining the balance in their near-shore marine environment, so important that they are considered to be a 'keystone' species. For details of the CAL licence for educational institutions contact: Copyright Agency. Most are found in Alaskan waters. Sea otter diet includes sea urchins, abalone, octopus, snails, clams and mussels. Recent books written together include Using the Library 1, 2 & 3; Thinking Through Themes (4 titles: Air, Fire, Water, Earth); and The Perfect School Project, published by and available at Teaching Solutions. The small, helpless, blind young are called pups. Portrait . They are curious, and spend time investigating things, hunting, or playing with things they find. Their teeth are different from those of other otters,  adapted for crushing shellfish and the bones of large fish. Sea otters dive to rocky reefs, where they collect invertebrates and also a large rock. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. Sea otters are social, and hang out together in groups called rafts. Most otter species are protected. The females of most species give birth in a den, called a holt. Otters communicate with each other using lots of different sounds, such as whistles and growls, chirps and barks: about a dozen or more different calls, each with its own distinct meaning such as alarm, greeting and mating calls. They are also at home in rice paddies and in mangroves. It is possible there are some in Lao, Malaysia and other places in Indonesia. They choose areas that have rocky substrates. Periodic messages. Make a difference for sea otters, the ocean they call home, and the ecosystem we all depend on by making a donation today. Otters live in groups consisting of a female, her older young, and her latest pups. Some of their playful behaviour of rubbing on logs, rolling in piles of fallen leaves and rubbing their chests on bunches of leaves on bushes actually has a serious purpose:  they are ways of leaving scent to mark their territory. The fur traps air bubbles to help keep them warm. ©Getty. They often float in the kelp forests, wrapping kelp around their bodies to anchor them in that spot. Relevance. Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. The tiny claws do not protrude past the end of their nimble fingers. They learn to swim at about two months of age, and until then they ride on their mother's chest to drink milk as she floats on her back. Georank. The sea otter is in the phylum chordate because sometime during its life cycle it has a notochord, dorsal nervechord, pharyngeal slits, endostyle, and a … Orientation. Sea otter pups are born in the water, with their eyes open, and have a special layer of fur so they can float even though they can't swim yet. Sea otter holding a rock that it uses to open shells ©Getty Images. In a healthy ecosystem, everything has its place. Otters are ready to reproduce when they are from 2 to 3 years of age. Only 2% of sea otter births are multiples. But right now, their population is at risk from oil spills, disease, and predation. Otters can stay under the water for  5 - 10 minutes, depending on the species. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. New. We’re dedicated to working with indigenous communities, legislators, scientists and people like you to advocate for science-based solutions to protect this fragile ecosystem. Otters carry large stones between their forepaws on these dives, used to dislodge prey and to break open shells. Without the sea otters, undersea animals would eat all the coastal kelp (a kind of seaweed) forests that provide shelter and food for many species of animals. Browse 1,606 sea otter stock photos and images available, or search for sea otter pup or sea otter alaska to find more great stock photos and pictures. A sea otter’s pelt is the thickest of any mammal. LIFE CYCLE: Male sea otters live between 10 and 15 years, while females live slightly longer, from 15 to 20 years. Saved from exploringnature.org. They are known to hunt in the sea and in freshwater. As a keystone species in many ecosystems, sea otters are a critical part of maintaining our ocean’s ecosystem. Read More » Otter Research Thanks for celebrating National Sea Otter Awareness Week with us! This isn’t exclusive to sea otters alone — river otters are also known to maintain river ecosystems and a healthy fish population by eating diseased fish. The sea otter spends most of its life at sea. Your support can make a difference! On two toes on each of its back feet there are short claws for grooming, but otherwise they do not have claws or webbing between their toes. This species is the most widespread of the otters and are found from parts of Asia such as Sri Lanka and Indonesia, through Europe right up to the Arctic Circle, and in North Africa. Today they are protected by law and their numbers have increased. They are fast and agile both in the water and on land. They are the least social of the otters. Horizontal . Sea otter rafts are segregated: Groups of between two and 1,000 otters are either all males or females and their young. Only adult males establish territories, which they patrol during mating season to keep out other adult males. Life Cycle. Sea otters are usually dark brown, often with lighter guard ha… Saved from exploringnature ... . Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Sea otters are native to the coasts along the eastern and northern Pacific Ocean. Jeff Foott / Getty Images Behavior . The fur is responsible for insulating them and keeping them warm because they do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm and protect them from the outside environment. Sea otters are social, and can often be seen in large groups called rafts. They have so much fur, they are too buoyant to stay underwater. The evergreen trees and shrubs, also commonly called mangroves, thrive in mud or sand flats that are flooded daily with sea water. Learn from their accomplishments, Rose. Since they don’t have a layer of blubber to keep them warm, like other marine animals, adult sea otters must eat 25% or more of their body weight a day to keep warm. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to g… Said every sea otter ever because these cuties tend to hold hands while they rest so that they won’t drift away. Sea otters have an acute sense of smell and taste an… Like other members of this family, they have very thick fur. They close their nostrils and ears when they are underwater. According to www.worldwildlife.org, “ sea otters will spend their entire life without leaving the water, but on occasion some come ashore and rest”. They are classified as Near Threatened, with threats including chemicals in water from run off from farms and sewage that affect the otters' food,  illegal hunting, increased fish farming in some areas has made otters to be considered a pest. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes at a time. Sea otters are slow swimmers that spend the majority of their lives on their backs. Another way to prevent drifting off before sleeping is for sea otters to wrap themselves in kelp. Males are more solitary or spend time with other males. Currently, the species has stable populations in Alaska, alon… Baby sea otters, like this little pup, depend on their mom to hunt for food for them. For school or homeschooling projects or just reading for interest. They also live near beaches and shores and mangroves. Rice farmers are tolerant of these otters because they feed on crayfish that can damage rice fields. 34. Sea otter is the heaviest and the second smallest aquatic member of weasel family. The length of a sea otter is four feet in California whereas in north sea, the height is slightly more than this. They hold their food in their hands as they eat, and although they crush the shells of crabs and molluscs with their strong back teeth, they are known to leave them in the sun for a while so that the shells open up in the heat. The sea otter is born an otter and grows just like we do. The life expectancy is 10-15 years. It is made up of a waterproof top layer and a short underlayer, which can contain as many as one million hairs per square inch. Hairy-nosed otters are endangered, and their numbers decreasing. They prefer the shoreline to the deeper waters. Otter (Sea) Otter (Sea) Saved by Exploring Nature Eduational Resource. All . From holding paws to rubbing their faces, sea otters are otter-ly adorable. Their fur actually consists of two layers, an undercoat and longer guard hairs. Otters .. Your support can make a difference! Sea otter life cycle: The otter does not go through stages to become an otter like some animals, for example a frog. Please try The life cycle of the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, how it contaminates coastal waters and infects... [+] wild sea otters. Floating freely on its back, the sea otter seems like the very picture of serenity, but they are quite voracious predators and need to eat a lot to sustain their lifestyle. An imbalance can destroy the ecosystem. Information for kids K-6 about the different otter species. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. They are the smallest of 13 species of otter,  known by a number of names including oriental small-clawed otter,  short-clawed otter or small-clawed otter. Otters reproduction and life cycle. Asian short-clawed otter feeding ©Getty Images. The writers and publishers of kidcyber are Shirley Sydenham, a primary teacher, and Ron Thomas, a primary teacher-librarian. Sea otters are members of the weasel or mustelid family. This species have a wide range of habitats with nearby land area suitable for their resting and grooming, including coastal areas, rivers, streams, fjords, and ricefields. Asian short-clawed otters are classified as Vulnerable. To do this, they slow down their heart rate so they use less oxygen. All inquiries should be made to the copyright owner at us@kidcyber.com.au. The average gestation period is six months. Enhydra lutris. Otters can "hide" in the kept forests and are safe from the whale, but can only stay there for one minute. The heaviest of the otter species. As long as they have nearby fresh water to wash the salt off their fur, they also hunt in sea water. The most comprehensive image search on the web. Otters are playful, energetic animals. by James Huang. There are 13 species, or kinds, of otter, on every continent except for Australia and Antarctica. These otters choose territories in areas with equal amounts of land and running water. As well as fish, freshwater otters hunt and eat frogs, crayfish, crabs and molluscs. They are just over 1m long, have fully webbed feet and strong claws. Most otter species have webbed feet, some more than others. Explore {{searchView.params.phrase}} by color family Using their sensitive front paws, they dig around in the mud and under stones to find their prey. Female sea otters can have two babies born at once, however they usually will abandon one of them. Without them, the vibrant marine life they make possible is at risk, too. The otter is the smallest marine animal but they can get up to five feet long and weigh up to around 70 pounds. They also eat frogs, small mammals, snakes and insects. Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. River otters are slimmer and sleeker with a long tail. Photo gallery: 2019 Sea Otter Classic, Part one. They are found near slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes and swamps or rainforests in South American countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraquay and Venezuela. FEEDING: Underneath each of the sea otter's powerful front paws is a pouch to store food collected during foraging dives. Sea Otters give birth throughout the year, there is three factors that may effect when the female gives birth those are: the weather, amount of food available, and the location. They are social, and play with each other, chasing or sliding down river banks or snow. Water and ocean pollution affects them, particularly oil spills at sea. Close to their skin there is a thick layer of fur that traps air. Filter by : Image Type . Two sleeping sea otters holding hands so they do not float apart. These charming marine mammals are a contrast of extremes. https://www.dkfindout.com/us/animals-and-nature/otters/, https://www.activewild.com/sea-otter-facts/, Fun Fact: baby otters have to be taught how to dive and swim by their mothers …, http://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/71202603185. They feed several times a day because they are such energetic animals. Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates. After about a month, their eyes are open and they begin exploring the den. Discover the science behind the cute. Sort by : Relevance. Step 3: The mother sea otters must get five sea urchins. The benefits that a heavy sea otter presence provides to seagrass, among others, is one of the many reasons they are deemed keystone species — that is, species that hold an ecosystem together. But why do they do what they do? This set contains 32 clipart files in both color and black and white.This download contains some of the following graphics. Terms and Conditions. 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