Georank. The sea otter is born an otter and grows just like we do. Mating and breeding do not occur in the sea. ©Getty. The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammals, but one of the largest members of the family Mustelidae, a group that includes skunks and weasels among others. An Asian short-clawed otter eating on a log across a river. Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. Happy National Sea Otter Awareness Week! With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing solutions to save our ocean. See more ideas about otters, sea otter, otter art. Otter (Sea) Otter (Sea) Saved by Exploring Nature Eduational Resource. Without them, the vibrant marine life they make possible is at risk, too. Sea otter diet includes sea urchins, abalone, octopus, snails, clams and mussels. In addition, the movement of the kelp in the water is important  in stopping bacteria from developing, and in filtering carbon levels of the coastal ecosystems. As long as they have nearby fresh water to wash the salt off their fur, they also hunt in sea water. Photo gallery: 2019 Sea Otter Classic, Part one. ©Getty. They can dive as deep as 100 metres, and can close their nostrils and ears when they do so. These charming marine mammals are a contrast of extremes. They are classified as Near Threatened, with threats including chemicals in water from run off from farms and sewage that affect the otters' food,  illegal hunting, increased fish farming in some areas has made otters to be considered a pest. Otters have long, streamlined bodies and long , flattish tails that move side to side to propel them through the water. They are seriously threatened by rapid habitat destruction, hunting, and pollution. Please try But why do they do what they do? They are known to hunt in the sea and in freshwater. 34. Depending on where they live, predators could include large cats and snakes, alligators or caimans, domestic dogs, or eagles. Their habitat  is next to rivers and streams, in wetlands, and estuaries (an estuary is a partly enclosed area of water with rivers running into it, and connected to the sea). Horizontal . Easy to understand text for student research, including material for primary school students K-6Easy to navigate formatUnits of work and lesson plans for teachers on a variety of topics in key learning areaskidcyberQuests: student webquest assignments with links to information sites for research, project ideas, evaluation'Ask a kidcyber Researcher' feature where students can request specific information about a topicAdvice to parents about helping with school homework assignments and projects. The giant otter, which is the longest otter, weighs around 85 pounds. The heaviest of the otter species. Using their sensitive front paws, they dig around in the mud and under stones to find their prey. kidcyber provides links to other web pages, selected and examined for their appropriateness, to provide more information about a particular topic. Saved from exploringnature.org. Otters were once heavily hunted, and numbers are still low. The writers and publishers of kidcyber are Shirley Sydenham, a primary teacher, and Ron Thomas, a primary teacher-librarian. There is an outer layer of longer fur that is waterproof. Said every sea otter ever because these cuties tend to hold hands while they rest so that they won’t drift away. It’s a member of the weasel family, and the only marine mammal that doesn’t have blubber to keep it warm. An ecosystem is the interaction of living things with each other and with their environment. Rolling in the grass or against logs is fun, but it also is a way of keeping their fur in good condition. The term ‘mangrove’ refers to a both habitat and its plants. Mangrove swamps are found along tropical and subtropical coastlines, usually in bays protected from heavy waves, freshwater areas where rivers meet the sea. Otters are alert, and their sensitive whiskers can detect movement of any predators in the water. They have webbed feet and flat tails for swimming. Unlike other marine mammals, sea otters do not have a layer of blubber to keep them warm. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. Information for kids K-6 about the different otter species. The biggest male sea otter can weigh up to 100 pounds. The most comprehensive image search on the web. This makes up for its lack of blubber in the cold Pacific water. Sea otter mother with baby and male, big sur, california, usa. But right now, their population is at risk from oil spills, disease, and predation. Today they are protected by law and their numbers have increased. Your support can make a difference! With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. The average gestation period is six months. As the name suggests, the Asian short-clawed otter has small claws, unlike other otter species. They are found near slow-moving rivers, streams, lakes and swamps or rainforests in South American countries including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraquay and Venezuela. Otters have very fine brown and black fur, but as they age their hair gets lighter until it is almost white around their necks and hands. Sea otters have an acute sense of smell and taste an… Portrait . The life cycle of the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, how it contaminates coastal waters and infects... [+] wild sea otters. Step 3: The mother sea otters must get five sea urchins. Sea otters are part of the weasel family. Their teeth are different from those of other otters,  adapted for crushing shellfish and the bones of large fish. They  spend most of their time in the water, particularly sea otters, which spend only a little time on land. Sea otters are social, and hang out together in groups called rafts. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. Another way to prevent drifting off before sleeping is for sea otters to wrap themselves in kelp. They are fast and agile both in the water and on land. Otters live in groups consisting of a female, her older young, and her latest pups. Asian short-clawed otters are classified as Vulnerable. Otters are born otters but grow and develop into bigger otters. They are classified as of Least Concern. They are  found in north-western and south-western India; southern China including Hainan, a large island off the south China coast; the Malay Peninsula; the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo; the Riau islands; and Palawan Island in the Philippines. They close their nostrils and ears when they are underwater. The females of most species give birth in a den, called a holt. Life Cycle. has a very unique life history and reproduction cycle.. Sea Otters have a polygynous mating system and show highly significant sexual dimorphism. They occasionally eat a small bird or mammal. Without the sea otters, undersea animals would eat all the coastal kelp (a kind of seaweed) forests that provide shelter and food for many species of animals. Asian short-clawed otter at entrance of its holt ©Getty Images. According to www.worldwildlife.org, “ sea otters will spend their entire life without leaving the water, but on occasion some come ashore and rest”. Make a difference for sea otters, the ocean they call home, and the ecosystem we all depend on by making a donation today. They can hold their breath underwater for about five minutes at a time. As well as fish, freshwater otters hunt and eat frogs, crayfish, crabs and molluscs. Mobile alerts from Ocean Conservancy. 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