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What does the word sea otter mean?
sea otter in American English noun. a marine otter, Enhydra lutris, of the shores of the northern Pacific, with a very valuable fur: now greatly reduced in number and rare in many areas.
How did the sea otter get its name?
Sea Otter Scientific Name The scientific name of the sea otter is Enhydra lutris. Enhydra appears to come from an old Greek term that roughly translates to “in water.” The scientific name Lutris is simply the Latin word for otter.
What is a sea otters scientific name?
Enhydra lutrisSea otter / Scientific name
What is special about the sea otter’s hair?
Sea otters have the thickest fur of any animal. Their fur contains between 600,000 to 1,000,000 hair follicles per square inch. Unlike most other marine mammals, otters lack a blubber layer. Instead, they depend on their dense, water-resistant fur to provide insulation. A sea otter grooms itself to stay warm.
Should sea otter be capitalized?
Do not capitalize as an adjective referring to the ocean (“The sea otter is the only marine mammal that does not have an extra layer of fat.”)
What is the kingdom of a sea otter?
AnimalSea otter / Kingdom
What is the class of a sea otter?
MammalSea otter / Class
What is the common name of otter?
The taxonomy of otters puts them as the L Canadensis species. The scientific name for an otter is Carnivora, with otter being its common name. It belongs to the weasel family and its subfamily is the Lutrinae. The classification it falls under is Mammalia.
What is river otter fur used for?
Today sea and river otters are the main bearers of fur. It is commonly used for coats, hats trimming and lining.
Is an otter a good pet?
They aren’t easily housetrained and they’re very active, social animals. Keeping an otter as a solitary pet can make them very sad. Not having enough entertainment or putting stress on your pet otter can also lead to destructive, aggressive behavior. Living in captivity is simply not a good life for an otter.
What did sea otters evolve from?
Scientists believe that sea otters descended from fish-eating, otter-like ancestors about five to seven million years ago, during the late Miocene and early Pliocene period.
Do sea otters really eat American beavers?
Otters, like human anglers, like to catch and eat large trophy fish. They do eat a lot of amphibians and fish, but they’ll also take out sizeable beavers , raccoons, plus snapping turtles, snakes, and small gators.
What does a sea otter like to do?
The sea otter spends most of its time in the water but, in some locations, comes ashore to sleep or rest. Sea otters have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Sea otters often float at the water’s surface, lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose.
Is a sea otter a predator and prey?
Sea Otter: The Animal’s Predator and Prey The sea otter plays an important role in the marine ecosystem by keeping the kelp forests from being overwhelmed by urchins and other prey. The otter, in turn, is an important source of nutrition for many predators higher up the food chain. It’s often referred to as a “keystone species.”
Do sea otters have any natural enemies?
The sea otter’s predator depends on where the specific sea otter lives. In the Arctic, killer whales often dine on sea otters, while in the Californian coast, great white sharks consume many otters each year. Other predators include sea lions in certain areas, as well as eagles, which eat otter pups.