OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Enhydra ("in water") lutris ("otter")
Sea Otter (subspecies E. l. nereis) at Monterey, California - September 2022
Featured Subspecies: Enhydra lutris nereis
Weight: 22-45kg / Length: 1.2-1.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Endangered
Sea Otters are considered the smallest of all marine mammals, and live almost their entire lives in the water. Unlike most marine mammals however, this is allowed by the densest fur of any living animal which keep it warm. They feed on molluscs, which they bash open using a rock that they store in the pockets under their forearms. Heavily persecuted by the fur trade, sea otter numbers have partially begun to re-establish from their lowest point, but seem to have plateaued at lower levels than before.
Related Species:
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus: Enhydra
SUBSPECIES: E. l. lutris, E. l. kenyoni, E. l. nereis
- Sighting Locations -
Found on the coast of Southern California, Washington and Southern Alaska
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Monterey
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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