1. Fur:
- Sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal. Their fur consists of two layers: a dense undercoat and longer guard hairs.
- The undercoat provides excellent insulation, keeping the otters warm in cold water.
- The guard hairs help to repel water and maintain buoyancy, allowing them to float easily in the ocean.
2. Whiskers:
- Sea otters have long, sensitive whiskers around their mouth and face.
- These whiskers are used to detect prey, navigate in murky waters, and explore their surroundings.
3. Paws:
- Sea otters have partially webbed paws with strong claws.
- They use their paws for catching and manipulating food, grooming, and clinging to rocks or kelp while resting or diving.
4. Teeth:
- Sea otters have sharp, pointed molars that are adapted for crushing the hard shells of their primary food source, sea urchins.
- Their incisors are also strong and chisel-like, used for grasping and breaking open prey.
5. Diving Adaptations:
- Sea otters are skilled divers and spend much of their time in the water.
- They have the ability to hold their breath for extended periods and can dive to considerable depths in search of food.
6. Social Behavior:
- Sea otters are highly social animals and live in groups called "rafts."
- Within these rafts, they engage in various social behaviors such as grooming, playing, and vocalizing to communicate.
7. Tool Use:
- Sea otters are known for their clever tool use.
- They often use rocks or other objects to break open the shells of sea urchins and other hard-shelled prey.
8. Diet:
- Sea otters are primarily carnivorous and feed on a variety of marine invertebrates, including sea urchins, clams, mussels, and crabs.
- They have a high metabolic rate and consume large quantities of food daily.
9. Conservation Status:
- Sea otters were once hunted nearly to extinction for their valuable fur.
- Conservation efforts have led to their population recovery, but they remain a species of conservation concern in some areas.
These distinctive features make sea otters fascinating and ecologically important members of marine ecosystems.