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Back Orders: Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)

Posted on Jan 13, 2008 by in Carnivores, Mammalthons, Marine Mammals | 24 comments

Enhydra lutris

Number 0103

Here is a funny fellow for Joanna. Sea otters, which live in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea, have the thickest fur of any mammal. That’s because unlike other aquatic mammals, sea otters don’t have blubber and rely on their fur to insulate them. They spend most of their time on their backs. As Ivan T. Sanderson says, “It has the most engaging habits, not least of which is floating on the surface on its back and using its broad flat chest as a lunch counter on which to lay out its food.” They also sleep on their backs, and mother sea otters float on their backs with their babies resting on their chests. At night or when they’re resting, sea otters wrap themselves in seaweed so they won’t drift away.

24 Comments

  1. Very cute! I really like otters, I have no real rational reason why, except people say I’m kind of like one…

  2. I absolutely love it!!! Thank You for all your hard work!

  3. Lydia, that’s definitely a compliment. You must be smart, playful, and graceful!

    Tribalblue, I’m glad you like it! You’re welcome!

  4. sea otters are my favorite.

    no other mammal has discovered the way to live… except the sea otter. an animal on a permanent lunch break.

  5. otters are by far my favorite animal!

  6. I love sea otters. Thanks for your information and crreativity in this blog. Don´t stop.

  7. Pamplemousse, I love that characterization. Ah, a perpetual lunch break sounds so nice…especially if one could take it while floating on one’s back! Although that method of having lunch is much better suited to the sea otter’s diet than to what I ordinarily eat.

    Laclau, thank you so much!

  8. I love this expression! And I love the idea behind this blog!

  9. like it very much :)

  10. Love the facial expression. Very nicely done.

  11. great!

  12. great!

  13. great!

  14. great!

  15. great!

  16. great!

  17. great!

  18. great!

  19. great!

  20. great!

  21. great!

  22. great!

  23. great!

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