The fur trade decimated sea otter populations starting in the 1700s, eventually exterminating them from most of their historic range. Apr 6, 2020 - Encourage reading and inspire young adventurers to explore the world through award-winning magazines, books, games, and more! Here are five fun facts you otter know: Sea otters … From majestic mammals and soaring birds to super sea creatures and curious creepy crawlies – it’s an animal lover’s dream! Sea otters are omnivores as they do eat seaweed and other aquatic plants.Despite this though, most sea otter individuals have a primarily carnivorous diet with sea otters known to eat more than 40 different species of marine animals.The sea otter mainly hunts sea urchins, clams, crabs, snails and small fish in … Without sea otters, sea urchins can overpopulate the sea … Take a deep breath, gang, as we dive into our ocean facts… Top ten ocean facts. But did you know these mammals are also top predators? Adult sea otters … video. Learn how this aquatic mammal is making a comeback from near extinction. 01 … Additional resources 1. Matched it with the Sea Otter stuffy! They also snack on such aquatic creatures as sea urchins, crabs, squid, octopuses, and fish. To crack open hard-shelled prey, the otters smash them on stone anvils. Sea otters are very unique and affectionate animals. National Geographic Readers: Sea Otters - Kindle edition by Marsh, Laura. © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- N.p., n.d. The female sea otters are smaller as they grow up to 4.7 feet in length and weigh up to 73 pounds. California’s southern sea otter has been listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1977. They gorge on more than 100 different prey species. But life isn’t all surf and sun for these endangered sea otters. Apr 10, 2014 - Get to know these charismatic members of the weasel family. Mothers will continue to float on their backs, nurse their young and teach them to swim and hunt. “My first picture of an otter, eating fish close to a heron. For more videos about wildlife please subscribe :)Royalty free content brought from pond5.com and/or bigstockphoto.com 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! Ecological niche. National Geographic: North American River Otter 3. Sea otters are just as full of interesting characteristics as they are full of cuteness! 1. Sea Otter Facts for Kids. The marine mammals spend about 930 megajoules—a measure of energy—to bring up baby, which is the equivalent of burning through 133 percent of their body mass. 3. Its ears and nostrils are closed down in water. A sea otter that has been soiled in an oil spill will die without intervention. Cute! Older sea otters sometimes get silver… Usually, a single baby (called a pup) is … There have been thousands of amazing From feeding habits to ecosystem maintenance, sea otters are more than meets the eye. Sea otters play a vital role in the health and stability of the nearshore marine ecosystem as a keystone species Learns to read and learn about real animals while enjoying a soft miniature stuffy of one! They once stretched from Japan through Russia across to Alaska and down into Baja California. Scientists know river otters use their eyesight and whiskers to hunt underwater. It’s Sea Otter Awareness Week!! Read about sea otter … The playful North American river otter is equally at home in the water and on land. This South American otter is the world's largest, at some 6 feet long. They prey on sea urchins, preventing them from overgrazing the forest of kelp, which supports marine diversity. Image 5 of 8 from the Otters gallery on National Geographic. If a sea otter’s fur becomes dirty, it has trouble absorbing the air needed to keep it warm. Mothers nurse their young for up to eight months. River otters eat aquatic animals, which are animals that live in the water, like crabs and catfish. Campaigns such as the current Sea Otter Awareness Week—which runs from September 20 to 26—aim to help people see past the adorable surface of a sea otter and into the deeper conservation issues these animals face. Currently the southern sea otter population is estimated at just above 3,000 animals. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. All rights reserved. They typically … National Geographic Readers: Sea Otters - Kindle edition by Marsh, Laura. But despite the attention and money lavished on this marine mammal, they still have a long way to go. Some population counts revealed about 50 otters along the central California coast, says Michael Harris, a sea otter biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife who is based in Morro Bay near San Luis Obispo. ), and female California sea otters weigh on average 20 kg (44 lbs.) Average length of an adult California sea otter is about 4 ft. A group of sea otters … Sea otters are a keystone species, meaning their role in their environment has a greater effect than other species. All rights reserved. The fur trade decimated sea otter populations starting in the 1700s, eventually exterminating them from most of their historic range. Web. When sea otter populations are healthy, urchin populations are kept in check, and kelp is abundant. Read more. (Photo: Frans Lanting/National Geographic) National Geographic Maps As they dive, they close their ears and nostrils to keep water out. Sea otters are on the red (endangered) list of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! The otter was at that time nearly extinct in south and middle of Sweden.” (Photo by Hans Ring) Learn More. The sea otter is one of the few mammal species on Earth to use a tool to help it hunt and feed. Sea otters are the only otters to give birth in the water. While the title of cutest animal ever may be up for debate, we know that sea otters are definitely in the running. By the early 1900s, the sea otter was thought to be extinct off of California. Unlike some marine mammals, sea otters rely on thick fur instead of blubber to keep warm in the icy waters of the Pacific Ocean. These semi-aquatic mammals feed on fish, squid, and shellfish. When the mothers dive for food, they tie their babies into kelp to ensure that they will not float away. It's not hard to drum up love for sea otters with their furry little paws, inquisitive expressions, and playful demeanor. Sea otters use rocks to crack open their prey as fast as 45 blows in 15 seconds. Not all otters use tools, but sea otters use them all the time. Bundle with soft plush reading buddy. Because the mismatch gives them a clumsy walk on land, sea otters rarely stray too far from the sea. Sea otters h In a marine ecosystem, or any type of ecosystem, a keystone species is an organism that helps … Otters grab their prey in their mouths. 14 Surprising Facts About Sea Otters Widely considered the cutest animal in the ocean, sea otters have a troubled history with humans. * SEA OTTER * | Animals For KidsQuality, educational videos for kids. The sea otter has long whiskers and water-repellent coat that insulates the animal from freezing water. Early in the 20th century only 1,000 to 2,000 animals remained. A thick layer of underfur covered by black, pale brown or silver guard hairs traps air for insulation. The sea otter … Otters eat 15-20 percent of their bodyweight daily. Teeth and paws and webbed-feet with retractable front claws definitely in the 1700s, eventually exterminating from... '', with a decreasing population trend their main food or southern ) sea otters are to. Otters rarely stray too far from the sea otter Pictures, sea otters their! 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