How Do Sea Otters Move?

Sea otters spend most of their lives in the water, but come on land for some resources. This means that they must be able to move around in both environments. Sea otters need to navigate waves, currents, deep waters and craggy beaches. They possess different adaptations and behaviors to help with this.

  1. Identification

    • Sea otters are ocean mammals and have certain characteristics needed to survive in the harsh ocean environment. Unlike other sea mammals, sea otters do not have blubber. Instead, they have several dense coats of fur to keep them warm in the cold water. They are also twice the size of their river otter relatives.

    Body Structure

    • Sea otters have four legs with webbed feet. They also possess a long, thick tail. Together, these physical features help them move efficiently through the water and keep them sturdy on land.

    Locomotion in Water

    • Sea otters spend the majority of their time in the water. They hunt, socialize and even give birth to their young in the water. Efficient movement in the ocean is of extreme importance because the loss of body temperature poses a constant threat. While fur helps, otters also use movement to help maintain their temperature. Sea otters spend most of their time floating on their backs. They use this posture for several reasons. They place rocks on their chests to crack open shellfish and urchins, then use themselves as a table to eat. This position also exposes the otters' furless feet to the sun, allowing them to warm themselves. Finally, floating expends very little energy, allowing the otters to eat small prey and still meet caloric needs.

      Otters also dive in order to catch food or move rapidly from place to place. When diving, they use their back legs and muscular tail to undulate through the water. This allows for quick propulsion at a minimal energy cost.

    Locomotion on Land

    • Otters are not as well-adapted to moving on land as they are to the water, but still manage to skillfully navigate rocky beaches. They move the same way on land as they do in deep water, pushing with their back legs and tail. This appears more awkward on land than it does in the water, but is actually the same movement: propelling themselves forward, arching their bodies and straightening out again.

    Significance

    • The movement of sea otters allow them to survive in harsh environments. They can swim at a variety of depths and temperatures, hunt efficiently and warm themselves with a variety of locomotion options. Without their ability to swim, float and walk, sea otters would not have the ability to thrive in the harsh ocean environment.