Sea Otters
Sea otters may look cute and furry from the outside but they have many attributes that help them to survive in their natural habitat. Along with being one of the smartest mammals, they also have finely tuned senses that help protect them and help them hunt. Their cute and furry appearance is not deception, despite living in the wild, they are very social and often swim along side boats and scuba divers. This became very dangerous when poachers realized the value of their pelts, and sea otters were hunted to near extinction
The sea otter is found in the weasel family. It lives along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. Their habitats range from the Russia to California. Their habitat is made of the sea floor where they catch food and the sea surface where they eat, groom, rest and socialize. They prefer shallow water that is less than 130 feet because it allows them to get food easier. However they can dive up to 400 feet if they need to. The water temperatures in these areas range from 21 degrees C to 38 degrees C below their core body temperature of 39 degrees C. They will frequently live in areas, which have kelp beds. They will raft in the kelp bed canopies. They use the seaweed in the beds to anchor themselves so that they do not float away. Mothers also tend to leave their pups in kelp beds to go hunt for food. All otters have the ability to produce sound and communicate vocally. However giant otters communicate more than other otters and they are also louder. Scientists have discerned about nine different sounds including some for anger, warning, and affection. A Cape clawless otter produces powerful, high-pitched shrieks when disturbed or when trying to attract attention. The Asian small-clawed otter has a repertoire of at least 12 different vocalizations.
Scent is the most important sense for communication in all freshwater species. River otters have scent glands at the base of the tail. They deposit their musky scent on their
The sea otter is found in the weasel family. It lives along the coast of the Pacific Ocean in North America and Asia. Their habitats range from the Russia to California. Their habitat is made of the sea floor where they catch food and the sea surface where they eat, groom, rest and socialize. They prefer shallow water that is less than 130 feet because it allows them to get food easier. However they can dive up to 400 feet if they need to. The water temperatures in these areas range from 21 degrees C to 38 degrees C below their core body temperature of 39 degrees C. They will frequently live in areas, which have kelp beds. They will raft in the kelp bed canopies. They use the seaweed in the beds to anchor themselves so that they do not float away. Mothers also tend to leave their pups in kelp beds to go hunt for food. All otters have the ability to produce sound and communicate vocally. However giant otters communicate more than other otters and they are also louder. Scientists have discerned about nine different sounds including some for anger, warning, and affection. A Cape clawless otter produces powerful, high-pitched shrieks when disturbed or when trying to attract attention. The Asian small-clawed otter has a repertoire of at least 12 different vocalizations.
Scent is the most important sense for communication in all freshwater species. River otters have scent glands at the base of the tail. They deposit their musky scent on their
Bibliography: http://wildequity.org/species/18 http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/bluske_brit/adaptation.htm http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sea-otter/ http://www.seaotter-sealion.org/seaotter/factsseaotter.html http://a-z-animals.com/animals/sea-otter/ http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/sea-otter.html?gclid=CJvh59_6jbYCFahlOgodywYALw http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/anphys/2000/Boehm/Habitats.html http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/otters/communication.htm