They are definitely meat eaters. Unlike other otters, having a soft undercoat, sea otters possess fur with thick hard hair. Read on and enjoy our interesting information about otters. OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! According to Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) the first sea otter was found in 1751. The male species of Giant Otter is between 1.5 and 1.7 m in length from head to tail and the female species is between 1 and 1.5 m. The well-muscled tail of the Giant Otter can add a further 70 cm to the total body length. Most of us don’t know much about them so here are some facts to help you educate yourself about them. Their gestation period is 9 weeks and they can breed at any time of the year, although this usually occurs in spring. Besides, they also prefer to eat crabs, large barnacles, mussels, snails, tubeworms, clams, squid, octopuses, chitons, scallops, sea cucumbers, sea stars and abalone. Top Facts about Otters. Learning Colors! Within these seas, they are usually found in the vicinity of the shore (which is typically rocky). Feb 19, 2015 - Widely considered the cutest animal in the ocean, sea otters have a troubled history with humans. Cuteness! Sealife . Sea Otters Sea otters are the second smallest marine mammals, and are part of the weasel family. Here are five fun facts you otter know: Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom, with up to one million hairs per square inch of their body! Diet | Consists of - mostly abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails, and about 40 other marine species. Sea otters typically show individual foraging specialization – which means an individual predominantly eats a select few species of prey. They may go to them occasionally but always return to what is called their home range. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Though they usually consume the entire fish, the animals may leave bones and other remains on homeowners' properties, which can attract other unwanted wildlife. Otters are fun creatures to watch and they are highly intelligent. Sea urchins are carnivorous predators, eating mostly sea urchins. The otters have thick, hard fur of a brownish color, a light belly and a muzzle. They will also be active in darkness, often foraging around midnight as well. Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens, which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. The sea otter’s diet includes about 40 marine species, including urchins, crabs, clams, abalones, mussels, and snails. While Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) had found out that the number one reason that sea otters are dying is because of oil spills! They use their sea whiskers to find small creatures to eat, and their paws to dig for clams. Feb 19, 2015 - Widely considered the cutest animal in the ocean, sea otters have a troubled history with humans. 6. Otters consume mainly fish but many people think that they eat plants and berries. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. Sea otters also have ears on the side of their head that are hard to see. How do sea otters hunt? Check out our range of fun otter facts for kids. Otter Diet Problems. The sea otter also have webbed feet and hands. May 3, 2019 - Sea otters are intelligent and emotional mammals. The Giant Otter of the sea can be heavy. Look at the chart below to get a breakdown of the otter diet discovered by researchers in Glacier Bay. If otters fascinate you, below are some interesting otter facts. Sea otters are predators, and are keystone species for kelp forests, which are the habitat for many rare aquatic creatures. But what types of food do wild otters like best? Explore. otters’ diet consists of hundreds of different types of invertebrates hiding on the ocean bottom. Sea otters have small heads and eyes. Sea otters are the exception, giving birth in the water. That was pretty interesting so Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) had also found out that sea otters use rocks to get their prey out like shellfish.Ok that was awesome, right? Did you know that sea otters have tails for swimming. Sea otters eat 25% of their body weight in food every day. Sea otter swimming in Resurrection Bay Alaska. Instead of blubber to keep them warm, sea otters have a thick and dense fur, in fact the densest in the animal kingdom, that helps keep water out and keep them warm. Since they don’t have a layer of blubber to keep them warm like most of their marine mammal cousins, these thick coats actually have the ability to trap air, forming a layer of cozy insulation to keep them otterly comfy. 5. Diet font size decrease font size increase font size; Image Gallery; Sea otters are ravenous eaters because they have to get enough calories to help them stay warm in their cold environment. The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Article from buzzfeed.com. Their diet consists of roughly 80% fish, but they will prey upon birds, mammals and frogs if fish are in short supply. The otter’s diet consists of clams, mussels, crabs, squid, octopuses, sea urchins, sea stars, and fish, most of which are hard-shelled and need to be cracked open first. 13 amazing otter facts. They gorge on more than 100 different prey species. Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. Let's celebrate these adorable creatures! Clever creatures, they'll use rocks to crack open the clams. They carry rocks and store food in the loose skin under their armpits - who needs carrier bags! In summer, when sea otters spend almost all their time in the sea, the way they sleep on the water looks very touching. The kelp also provides cover from predators. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! 4. All in all, the sea otter preys on at least 100 different marine species. Description. Discover our favourite incredible otter facts, including facts about sea otters, perhaps the cutest of them all. The front hair has a length of 20 mm, an undercoat of 12 mm. They are diurnal, preferring to forage in the early morning and the late afternoon while resting through much of the night and the middle of the day. They have very thick fur – near about 250,000 to one million hair per square inch. Sea otters have awesome facts about them. Unlike most sea mammals, the sea otter does not have a layer of fat under its skin to keep it warm. The average otter is 1–1.3 metres in length, and weighs up to 9kg. Fun Otter Facts for Kids. Individuals are specialists, but can change their diet. 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