The sea otter is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. 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. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.
Sea otter
A sea otter's thick fur makes its body appear plumper on land than in the water.
Skull of a sea otter
Sensitive vibrissae and forepaws enable sea otters to find prey (like this purple sea urchin) using their sense of touch.
Marine mammals are mammals that rely on marine (saltwater) ecosystems for their existence. They include animals such as cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters and polar bears. They are an informal group, unified only by their reliance on marine environments for feeding and survival.
A humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
A leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
A polar bear (Ursus maritimus), a member of family Ursidae
A sea otter (Enhydra lutris), a member of family Mustelidae
