Sea otter
Sea otters are small marine mammals found along North Pacific coasts. They hunt for shellfish and urchins on the sea floor.
Key numbers
Scientific name: Enhydra lutris
| Length | 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)(animaldiversity.org) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 16–45 kg (35–99 lb)(animaldiversity.org) |
| Lifespan (wild) | up to 23 years(animaldiversity.org) |
| Diet | Sea otters eat bottom-dwelling animals such as sea urchins, clams, crabs, mussels and snails, and they eat roughly a fifth of their body weight each day.(animaldiversity.org) |
| Habitat | Ocean: Coastal North Pacific, from Russia and Alaska to Vancouver Island, plus central California.(animaldiversity.org) |
| Conservation status | Endangered(animaldiversity.org) |
Sources give different figures for some of these numbers; we show the range they support.
Our full sea otter profile is on the way. Meanwhile, see it next to a person, to scale.