Most species are entirely dependent on aquatic habitats for food. There is also a small experimental population that originated from relocated animals at San Miguel Island off the coast of Santa Barbara. Take a closer look at these encyclopedia books including information about animal habitats, behavior, and scientific classification. Sea otters were once found from Mexico to Alaska, and even Japan. The Alaska otter has a greater tendency to haul out (come to shore) than the California otter. Congo clawless otters appear to inhabit only small, torrential mountain streams in heavy rainforest areas. Most seem to prefer quiet ponds and sluggish streams. A small population of sea otters lives at S… Find a variety of free classroom activities that will keep your students engaged and excited to learn about animals. Sea otters are not nearly so versatile. The key features needed for a conducive sea otter habitat include shallow water with saline marshes. Many otter species undergo seasonal movements, but no extensive migrations. In southern Chile the marine otter is found almost exclusively along exposed rocky seashores; farther north it may inhabit estuaries and fresh water. Home ranges vary in size with species, location, and resource distribution, and are generally larger for males. sea-bottom substrates. Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) Download free teacher guides to keep students learning in a hands-on way: includes vocabulary, classroom activities, goals and objectives. Despite perils such as oil spills and high-speed ferries, the bay has plenty of safe spots for this charismatic threatened species. 9. also Adaptation). Cape clawless otters do not dig burrows. (See also The sea otters usually live near the shore waters Otters have been seen along the streams, and vernal pools provide habitat for many animals and plants. Fun Facts for Kids. A raft is usually comprised of single-sex sea otters that can range from 10 to a hundred individuals. shellfish are plentiful. Marine otters live along the Pacific coast of South America, ranging from northern Peru to Tierra del Fuego. Otter watching involves perseverance. So are we! They are thought to be more terrestrial in nature than other otter species. Sea otters inhabit coastal areas and islands of the eastern and western North Pacific Ocean. Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length. Runways are well-defined land paths that link waterways and other facilities. Sea otters are known to wrap their pups and themselves in kelp to keep from drifting out to sea. In a kelp forest, sea urchins can graze on the kelp and eat their holdfasts , resulting in deforesting the kelp from an area. out by waters near shore or kelp beds and where The Alaskan sea otter population numbered more than 100,000 in the 1980s.  north to the Despite perils such as oil spills and high-speed ferries, the bay has plenty of safe spots for this charismatic threatened species. Sea Otters for males and about 7 km (4.3 mi.) A sea otter eats in the water, lying on its back, with its food on its chest. Southern river otters are found in Argentina and Chile. diverse. Spot-necked otters are found throughout Africa in all countries south of the Sahara. do not  live in deeper waters because Otters are widely distributed. Their teeth are strong enough to crunch open a clam shell or bite through a sea urchin's spines. Currently, the California population of about 3,300 individuals range from Half Moon Bay to Point Conception. Known as a sprawling and energetic “celebration of cycling,” Sea Otter is cycling’s North American season opener. Sea otters use the kelp to wrap themselves in when they are resting. They make their dens under boulders and ledges, and in driftwood and tangles of vegetation. have very distinct habitats. Habitat. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. Sea otters once ranged from Mexico to Alaska and even to Japan. Crazy about roller coasters? This keeps them near both kelp forests, which provide them with food, and the shore which allows them to occasionally exit the water to rest, socialize, and escape dangerous ocean conditions or predators. Since the 1990s, the southwestern stock of Alaskan sea otters has experienced a dramatic (up to 70% population) decline, most likely due to increased predation by killer whales. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. Sea Otters do not  migrate due to their Habitat and Distribution. coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, then from Alaska down They were hunted nearly to extinction, but conservation measures have allowed some populations to recover. Neotropical otters range from Uruguay north to Central America and Mexico. They eat, rest, and groom themselves at the water surface. Sea Otters that live in rocky bottom habitats  interact with organisms such as lobsters, sea Otters are found almost all over the world and in many wet habitats, such freshwater rivers, lakes, oceans, coastlines and marshes. They especially like to reside in waters with kelp beds. reproduces click. Fish & Wildlife Service listed the southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).For access to all Federal Register notices regarding this listed species, visit our national web site. Territories are generally smaller than home ranges. Otters are usually found no more than a few hundred meters from water. Sea otters play a vital role in the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem as a … They are not at the top of the food web, however, and are eaten by orcas, great white sharks and other large predators. Habitat & Population Status. Otters spend a large amount of time in the water, yet they still have fur. Come with us on an unforgettable journey behind the scenes during a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens Camp. By controlling sea urchin populations, sea otters promote giant kelp growth, as that species is a favorite of sea urchin grazers. Historically, sea otters occupied a contiguous range from northern Japan, across the North Pacific, and down to Baja California, Mexico. San Francisco Bay could become the new home to extinction-threatened sea otters, according to a recent report published in PeerJ. hang in groups called rafts; they usually hang Their diet is comprised mostly of invertebrates like clams, mussels, and sea urchins, squids, crabs, and snails. Habitat. Because of the activity in the sea will never ends because many people rely their life on it … The people of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment are truly and deeply driven to inspire on behalf of, to celebrate and connect with, and to care for the natural world we all share. When the water temperatures are too cold sea otters reduce heat loss by floating … The decline in more typical killer whale prey species has led some killer whales to switch to feeding on sea otters. Most sea otters remain in habitats with rocky substrate, as their prey tend to be more plentiful in these areas. Sea otters live in shallow coastal waters in the northern Pacific. covered beaches, small icebergs or What’s more, these coastal otters live their lives according to the tides, while river otters are usually most active at night. Can otters use tools? Sea otters inhabit temperate coastal waters with rocky or soft sediment ocean bottom. The current range extends along the California coast from Half Moon Bay in the north to Santa Barbara in the south, though individuals are occasionally seen outside these limits. Many sea otters live near rocky sea bottoms and Sea otter moms typically nurse and care for their pups for about 6 months before weaning them. To ensure that they stay dry they must spend… The sea otter, however, rarely comes ashore, according to the San Diego Zoo. Sea otters live in several regions of the Pacific: along the Commander and Kuril Islands off the coast of Russia, along the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula south of the Bering Sea, off the Alaskan Peninsula to Vancouver Island, and on the central California coast from Point Sur to Ano Nuevo. They typically … Otters are usually found no more than a few hundred meters from water. Otters love to eat shelled animals, … They are frequently found in protected harbors, barrier reefs, and kelp forests that offer shelter from wind and waves. Go behind-the-scenes to see how our trainers care for and interact with these amazing animals, and get up close with some finned, flippered, or feathered friends. (See also Reproduction). That’s a sea otter, yo. River otters (genus Lutra) inhabit all types of inland waterways, as well as estuaries and marine coves. At SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, we extend our commitment to the environment beyond our company by supporting a variety of conservation groups and programs. There is a much larger population in Alaska, and sea otters are still found in Russia. To catch their food, which primarily lives on the seafloor near kelp forests, sea otters will close their nostrils and ears to dive down, grab … Sea Most species are entirely dependent on aquatic habitats for food. (See Eurasian otters are found throughout most of Europe, Asia, and North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia). Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Currently, the California population numbers around 3,300 and is found from Half Moon Bay to Point Conception. coat of fur. Under their arms, Sea otters have built in pockets. urchins, and abalone. However, rarely comes ashore, according to the San Diego Zoo a survey. 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