North American river otters were hunted and trapped extensively for their fur in the 19th and 20th centuries, and are still hunted in some places. The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis), also known as the northern river otter or common otter, is a semiaquatic mammal endemic to the North American continent found in and along its waterways and coasts. In order to maintain its body weight, a sea otter must eat 25% of its body weight per day. Sea otters can sometimes be seen off sandy beaches — and even local harbors. Within Alaska, there are 3 stocks. The longest recorded sea otter dive was 4 minutes, 2 and the deepest recorded sea otter dive was 318 feet (97 m) deep. 9. The sea otter can live its entire life without leaving the water. The river otter is protected and insulated by a thick, water-repellent coat of fur. Sea otters have the densest hair coat of any mammal, with 800,000 to one million hairs per square inch. Their bodies are long and streamlined and their legs short. 6. A sea otter rests on its back with its head, arms and flippers in the air, and looks like two lumps close together. Females are slightly smaller, weighing 14-33 kg and measuring 1-1.4 m in length. The tail comprises less than a third of the body length. For one of the smallest marine mammals on Earth (yet the largest member of the weasel family), the sea otter has racked up quite a few superlatives: 10. Otters have broad flattened heads and prominent whiskers. Males weigh 22-45 kg and are 1.2-1.5 m in length. The northern sea otter subspecies (E. lutris kenyoni), is found in the Aleutian Islands, Southern Alaska, British Columbia, and Washington. The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects sea otters. Sea otters, Enhydra lutris (Linnaeus, 1758), are the largest member of the Family Mustelidae (70 species of river otters, skunks, weasels, badgers, etc.) 1. and are the smallest marine mammal in North America. Description . The sea otter is the largest member of the weasel family and the smallest marine mammal. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight each day in sea urchins, crabs, clams, snails and other invertebrates. Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae—a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and semi-aquatic forms such as weasels, badgers, skunks, fishers, minks, and river otters.Sea otters are the only fully aquatic form of otters, but they share features with the others such as thick fur and short ears. The Southcentral population spans from west of Glacier Bay to the eastern edge of Cook Inlet. Conservation. The Southeast stock can be found in the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska. Their tails are furred and muscular, broad at the base and narrow towards the tip. Sea otters use rocks to crack open their prey as fast as 45 blows in 15 seconds. They have webbed feet equipped with claws. 7. Sea otters are commonly spotted on WWF’s Alaska tours. It prohibits commercial harvest of sea otters, and allows Alaska natives to hunt sea otters for subsistence and creation of handicrafts. River otters generally live alone or in small social groups. They can live eight to nine years in the wild but have lived up to 21 years in captivity. 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. Ninety percent of the world’s sea otters live in Alaska’s coastal waters. Their aquatic habitats can be both marine and fresh … The sea otter can usually be found in kelp beds, and looks very much like lumps of kelp. Tips for spotting a sea otter. 1. River otters are found throughout most of North America from the Rio Grande to Canada and Alaska, except for in arid deserts and the treeless Arctic. Ninety percent of the world’s sea otters live in coastal Alaska. They live in riparian zones, often in the same areas as beavers. 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