Sea Otter

Overview

The sea otter is the heaviest member of the weasel family and one of the few mammals known to use tools, cracking open shellfish with rocks while floating on its back.

Appearance

It has a dense, water-resistant brown coat — the thickest fur of any animal — short forelimbs, and large webbed hind feet.

Habitat & Distribution

The sea otter is found in ocean habitats.

Diet & Behavior

Diet: Carnivore — Meat-eating animals that hunt, scavenge, or fish for prey, ranging from big cats to snakes and birds of prey.

Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp to keep from drifting while sleeping, hold hands in groups called rafts, and use rocks as tools to crack open shellfish.

Interesting Facts

• 1

  A sea otter's fur can have up to a million hairs per square inch, the densest of any animal.

• 2

  They hold hands while sleeping in groups called rafts to avoid drifting apart.

• 3

  Sea otters are one of the few animals known to use tools, like rocks, to open shellfish.

Gallery

Sea Otter FAQs