Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Enhydra lutris lutris (nominate), the Asian sea otter, ranges from the Kuril Islands north of Japan to Russia's Commander Islands in the western Pacific Ocean. [126], When the USFWS implemented the translocation program, it also attempted, in 1986, to implement "zonal management" of the Californian population. The final assembly provided 2.426 Gbp of … [183] Although human divers harvest red sea urchins both for food and to protect the kelp, sea otters hunt more sea urchin species and are more consistently effective in controlling these populations. 6-10 Otter Facts. Did you know sea otters often rest together in single-sex groups called rafts? [142] Where prey such as sea urchins, clams, and abalone are present in a range of sizes, sea otters tend to select larger items over smaller ones of similar type. [27] The fur consists of long, waterproof guard hairs and short underfur; the guard hairs keep the dense underfur layer dry. Above: Aleut carving of a sea otter hunt on a whalebone spear. [61] Adult females move freely between male territories, where they outnumber adult males by an average of five to one. Among their food preferences are sea urchins, crabs, abalone, clams, mussels, octopus, and fishes. [24] For its size, the male otter's baculum is very large, massive and bent upwards, measuring 150 mm (5.9 in) in length and 15 mm (0.59 in) at the base. [121], Sea otters are a classic example of a keystone species; their presence affects the ecosystem more profoundly than their size and numbers would suggest. "Otters: Enhydra Lutris and Lontra Felina." The Northern Sea Otter who appears in the manga has an odd fixation with collecting treasure, claiming to be a "Treasure King" in the likeness of Lupin the Third. [43], An adult's 32 teeth, particularly the molars, are flattened and rounded for crushing rather than cutting food. [35], The sea otter propels itself underwater by moving the rear end of its body, including its tail and hind feet, up and down,[32] and is capable of speeds of up to 9 km/h (5.6 mph). [52] Foraging resumes for a few hours in the afternoon and subsides before sunset, and a third foraging period may occur around midnight. The Southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. [3] When underwater, its body is long and streamlined, with the short forelimbs pressed closely against the chest. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. Established in 1964, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has evolved to become the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Northern Sea Otter makes a brief appearance during a single chapter of the manga, set at the beach.. [59] To open hard shells, it may pound its prey with both paws against a rock on its chest. All about the sea otter . [187], Among the Ainu, the otter is portrayed as an occasional messenger between humans and the creator. Sea otter teeth are adapted for crushing hard-shelled invertebrates such as clams, urchins, and crabs. For one of the smallest marine mammals on Earth (yet the largest member of the weasel family), the sea otter has racked up quite a few superlatives: 10. In 2004, USFWS proposed listing the southwest Alaska northern sea otter under the ESA, and in 2005, the population was listed as threatened. [140] However, male and female otters have been confirmed by scientists off shores of the Baja Peninsula in a 2014 study, who hypothesize that otter dispersed there beginning in 2005. Personality. [157] They returned to Siberia, having killed nearly 1,000 sea otters, and were able to command high prices for the pelts. In this zone, only San Nicolas Island was designated as sea otter habitat, and sea otters found elsewhere in the area were supposed to be captured and relocated. Sea otters eat marine invertebrates, primarily urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species. Northern sea otters (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) images and facts - this gallery showcases a wide variety of different stock images of the Northern sea otter which stunningly capture them both in and out of the water. This male is thought to have originated from a colony in Washington, but disappeared after a coastal storm. 6. [144], In a few northern areas, fish are also eaten. [167] Prices rose as the species became rare. The Russians found the sea otter far more valuable than the sable skins that had driven and paid for most of their expansion across Siberia. [16][146] Contrary to popular depictions, sea otters rarely eat starfish, and any kelp that is consumed apparently passes through the sea otter's system undigested. However, temporary pair-bonding occurs for a few days between a female in estrus and her mate. Box 1329 , Seward, AK 99664, Phone: (907) 224-6300 • Toll Free: (800) 224-2525 • Fax: (907) 224-6320, Legal Name: Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, 501 (c)(3) Tax ID: 92-0132479 Privacy Policy, Save the Center Organization & Corporate Donors. [55] Mating takes place in the water and can be rough, the male biting the female on the muzzle – which often leaves scars on the nose – and sometimes holding her head under water. [170] Poaching was a serious concern in the Russian Far East immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; however, it has declined significantly with stricter law enforcement and better economic conditions.[102]. Non-breeding males may form their own groups in an area just outside the breeding territory. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes that Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program be Terminated", "Service Proposes to End Southern Sea Otter Translocation Program", "Rare sighting of sea otter off Laguna Beach", "U.S. will let otters roam along Southern California coastline", "California's Sea Otter Numbers Continue Slow Climb", "California Sea Otter Numbers Drop Again", "Spring 2010 Mainland California Sea Otter Survey Results", "Another deadly challenge for the sea otter", "Evidence for a Novel Marine Harmful Algal Bloom: Cyanotoxin (Microcystin) Transfer from Land to Sea Otters", Spring 2014 California Sea Otter Census Results, "Otters vs. [178] An estimated 1,200 sea otters live within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and more than 500 live within the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. Otter were also taken from San Benito Island, Cedros Island, and Isla Natividad in the Bay. Articles depicting sea otters were considered to have magical properties. [40] Researchers have noted when they approach in plain view, sea otters react more rapidly when the wind is blowing towards the animals, indicating the sense of smell is more important than sight as a warning sense. [38] The sea otter's body is highly buoyant because of its large lung capacity – about 2.5 times greater than that of similar-sized land mammals[39] – and the air trapped in its fur. [47] [26] With up to 150,000 strands of hair per square centimetre (nearly one million per sq in), its fur is the densest of any animal. The sea otter walks with a clumsy, rolling gait on land, and can run in a bounding motion. Population. [26], Under each foreleg, the sea otter has a loose pouch of skin that extends across the chest. This rock is used for various things, such as cracking open shellfish and clams. In this pouch (preferentially the left one), the animal stores collected food to bring to the surface. Sea otter pelts were given in potlatches to mark coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. [62], A male sea otter is most likely to mate if he maintains a breeding territory in an area that is also favored by females. This allows space for competing species and increases species diversity.[153]. In marine protected areas, polluting activities such as dumping of waste and oil drilling are typically prohibited. The longest recorded sea otter dive was 4 minutes, 2 and the deepest recorded sea otter dive was 318 feet (97 m) deep. "Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)." 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. [157] The surviving crew members, which included naturalist Georg Steller, discovered sea otters on the beaches of the island and spent the winter hunting sea otters and gambling with otter pelts. [136], For southern sea otters to be considered for removal from threatened species listing, the U.S. [25], Unlike most other marine mammals, the sea otter has no blubber and relies on its exceptionally thick fur to keep warm. The northern sea otter subspecies (E. lutris kenyoni), is found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. Alaska Species Ranking System - Northern sea otter, southwest Alaska DPS Reproductive Potential Age of First Reproduction (-5 to 5) Number of Young (-5 to 5) Ecological Specialization Dietary (-5 to 5) Habitat (-5 to 5) Age at sexual maturity is density-dependent, but averages between 3 to 5 years (Bodkin et al. The northern sea otter can be found off the coasts of Alaska and Washington state. After 1810, the sea otter trade slowly diminished throughout the Northwest Coast. Hundreds of thousands of sea otters once lived along most of the coastal North … The northern Sea Otters. Date issued: August 2013 . "Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)." 9. [118] By 1817, sea otters in the area were practically eliminated and the Russians sought permission from the Spanish and the Mexican governments to hunt further and further south of San Francisco. The harvest of these otters is allowed to the native people only for personal uses, craftwork, trading or making … [36] When at the surface, it usually floats on its back and moves by sculling its feet and tail from side to side. Sea otters have the densest hair coat of any mammal, with 800,000 to one million hairs per square inch. [93] Their northern range is limited by ice, as sea otters can survive amidst drift ice but not land-fast ice. [5] Male sea otters usually weigh 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb) and are 1.2 to 1.5 m (3 ft 11 in to 4 ft 11 in) in length, though specimens up to 54 kg (119 lb) have been recorded. This population increased to over 5,600 in 2013 with an estimated annual growth rate of 7.2%, and their range on the island's west coast extended north to Cape Scott and across the Queen Charlotte Strait to the Broughton Archipelago and south to Clayoquot Sound and Tofino. The pattern of disappearances is consistent with a rise in predation, but there has been no direct evidence of orcas preying on sea otters to any significant extent. [139], Historian Adele Ogden described sea otters are particularly abundant in "Lower California", now the Baja California Peninsula, where "seven bays...were main centers". The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) is the smallest marine mammal, and quite arguably the cutest, with its gentle expression and playful nature endearing it to many . Under Aleksandr I, the administration of the merchant-controlled company was transferred to the Imperial Navy, largely due to the alarming reports by naval officers of native abuse; in 1818, the indigenous peoples of Alaska were granted civil rights equivalent to a townsman status in the Russian Empire. Cold water is kept completely away from the skin and heat loss is limited. [16], The last native sea otter in Oregon was probably shot and killed in 1906. It makes its home in a burrow near the water's edge, and can thrive in river, lake, swamp, or estuary ecosystems. Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal living near the shores of the North Pacific, from northern Japan, the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka east across the Aleutian Islands and along the North American coast to Mexico.It has the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. Currently, the most stable and secure part of the sea otter's range is Russia. The northern sea otter inhabits coastal waters of the northern Pacific Ocean and is the largest member of the Mustelidae family. [56] There, the sea otter eats while floating on its back, using its forepaws to tear food apart and bring it to its mouth. [98] By 2004, sea otters had repopulated all of their former habitat in these areas, with an estimated total population of about 27,000. [184] The health of the kelp forest ecosystem is significant in nurturing populations of fish, including commercially important fish species. Although the Northern Sea Otters are endemic to these regions, 90% of their population inhabits the Alaskan shorelines. It has unique adaptations, allowing it to thrive in the nearshore marine environment. [73] The fluffy baby fur is replaced by adult fur after about 13 weeks. [55] It is the only marine mammal that catches fish with its forepaws rather than with its teeth. [71] Twins occur in 2% of births; however, usually only one pup survives. [194] In 2007, a YouTube video of two sea otters holding paws drew 1.5 million viewers in two weeks, and had over 20 million views as of January 2015[update]. These plans were abandoned after many translocated otters died and also as it proved impractical to capture the hundreds of otters which ignored regulations and swam into the zone. [57] It uses its lower incisor teeth to access the meat in shellfish. [59] The liver, kidneys, and lungs of sea otters also become damaged after they inhale oil or ingest it when grooming. [175] Necropsies of dead sea otters indicate diseases, particularly Toxoplasma gondii and acanthocephalan parasite infections, are major causes of sea otter mortality in California. Northern sea otter exploitation impacted nearshore community structure through the increase of epibenthic invertebrates, which have since been exploited by fisheries. [179][180], Some of the sea otter's preferred prey species, particularly abalone, clams, and crabs, are also food sources for humans. [60] The Aleuts carved sea otter bones for use as ornaments and in games, and used powdered sea otter baculum as a medicine for fever. [176], Sea otter habitat is preserved through several protected areas in the United States, Russia and Canada. A small population of sea otters lives at S… … The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Inhabit coastal, shallow waters with sandy or rocky bottoms, which include bays, inlets, fiords, and harbors. It could have traveled to the state from either California or Washington. In California, great white sharks are their primary predator[154] but there is no evidence that the sharks eat them. The North Pacific Fur Seal Treaty of 1911 included sea otters and protected the species somewhat. 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