Sea Otters

●Scientific name: Enhydra lutris

●The sea otter is a marine mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family, which also includes weasels, badgers, and minks.

●Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg, making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals.

●Habitat: Primarily inhabit coastal waters of the northern Pacific Ocean, including the coasts of North America (Alaska, Canada, and the United States) and eastern Russia.

●Physical Characteristics:

○They have dense, water-repellent fur that keeps them warm in cold ocean waters.

○Sea otters are among the smallest marine mammals, with adults typically weighing between 30 to 100 pounds (14 to 45 kilograms).

○They have webbed feet and strong, dexterous forelimbs adapted for swimming and manipulating food.

●Behavior:

○Sea otters are highly social animals and often form groups called rafts, consisting of several individuals.

○They spend much of their time grooming their fur to maintain its insulating properties and remove debris and parasites.

●Ecological Importance:

○Sea otters play a crucial role in their ecosystems as keystone species, helping to maintain the health and diversity of kelp forest and nearshore habitats by controlling populations of sea urchins, which would otherwise overgraze kelp beds.

●IUCN Conservation status: Endangered

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.  Consider the following statements about Sea Otter:

1)The sea otter is a marine mammal belonging to the Mustelidae family.

2)They are categorised as Endangered by IUCN Book of Red list.?

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A)1 only

B)2 only

C) Both

D) None

Answer: C