[139], Historian Adele Ogden described sea otters are particularly abundant in "Lower California", now the Baja California Peninsula, where "seven bays...were main centers". 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. [147], The individuals within a particular area often differ in their foraging methods and prey types, and tend to follow the same patterns as their mothers. [174] Unusually high mortality rates amongst adult and subadult otters, particularly females, have been reported. [51], The sea otter is diurnal. [121], Sea otters are a classic example of a keystone species; their presence affects the ecosystem more profoundly than their size and numbers would suggest. By this time, it weighs approximately 30 pounds and appears almost as large as its mother. It is not to be confused with the marine otter, a rare otter species native to the southern west coast of South America. The fur trade that began in the 1740s reduced the sea otter's numbers to an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 members in 13 colonies. The aquarium team must act fast. [55][182] Shellfish declines have also occurred in many parts of the North American Pacific coast that do not have sea otters, and conservationists sometimes note the existence of large concentrations of shellfish on the coast is a recent development resulting from the fur trade's near-extirpation of the sea otter. Articles depicting sea otters were considered to have magical properties. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. [192], Sea otters can do well in captivity, and are featured in over 40 public aquariums and zoos. In, Treaty for the Preservation and Protection of Fur Seals, Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, tribes on the Pacific coast of North America, "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation", "Multigene phylogeny of the Mustelidae: Resolving relationships, tempo and biogeographic history of a mammalian adaptive radiation", "Building large trees by combining phylogenetic information: a complete phylogeny of the extant Carnivora (Mammalia)", "Washington State Periodic Status Review for the Sea Otter", "Do differences in skull morphology and bite performance explain dietary specialization in sea otters? Otter were also taken from San Benito Island, Cedros Island, and Isla Natividad in the Bay. Sea otters have an ingenious method to open shellfish. [163] When Cook's ship later stopped at a Chinese port, the pelts rapidly sold at high prices, and were soon known as "soft gold". In this zone, only San Nicolas Island was designated as sea otter habitat, and sea otters found elsewhere in the area were supposed to be captured and relocated. Sea otters are social animals, with females and pups spending time together in one group and males in another. Cyanobacteria are found in stagnant freshwater enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus from septic tank and agricultural fertilizer runoff, and may be flushed into the ocean when streamflows are high in the rainy season. â -- A wild sea otter mother and her "otterly" adorable newborn pup have become celebrities at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in Central California, where the two have been photographed and filmed bonding over the past few days. [59] On land, young sea otters may face attack from bears and coyotes. [63] During this time, males patrol the boundaries of their territories to exclude other males,[63] although actual fighting is rare. Can otters use tools? [16][98][99][100][101], Adele Ogden wrote in "The California Sea Otter Trade" that sea otter were hunted "from Yezo northeastward past the Kuril Group and Kamchatka to the Aleutian Chain". A female sea otter carries and nurses her pup on her belly as she floats on her back. A mother sea otter will not leave her pup unaccompanied except to dive for food. [165] In 1812, the Russians founded an agricultural settlement at what is now Fort Ross in northern California, as their southern headquarters. [60] The Aleuts carved sea otter bones for use as ornaments and in games, and used powdered sea otter baculum as a medicine for fever. Sekiu is the last sea otter born at a zoological facility in the United States. During the 1880s, a pelt brought $105 to $165 in the London market, but by 1903, a pelt could be worth as much as $1,125. Take full advantage of our site features by enabling JavaScript. [66] Distressed or frightened adults may whistle, hiss, or in extreme circumstances, scream. They are coated, UV protected and finished with a cold wax finish. [153] The role of sea otters in maintaining kelp forests has been observed to be more important in areas of open coast than in more protected bays and estuaries. 5 out of 5 stars (31) 31 reviews $ 18.00. You've already signed up for some newsletters, but you haven't confirmed your address. [107] By 2006, though, the Alaska population had fallen to an estimated 73,000 animals. [99] A massive decline in sea otter populations in the Aleutian Islands accounts for most of the change; the cause of this decline is not known, although orca predation is suspected. The pattern of disappearances is consistent with a rise in predation, but there has been no direct evidence of orcas preying on sea otters to any significant extent. The mother quickly âadoptedâ the young pup and a bond was formed. Great! In the early 18th century, Russians began to hunt sea otters in the Kuril Islands[19] and sold them to the Chinese at Kyakhta. 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More specialized in these areas since the mid-1990s with a clumsy, gait! [ 109 ] in 1775 at Okhotsk, sea otters are found almost exclusively on the that. Diseases the hunters had introduced implantation + 4 months pregnancy ) helmets, and Isla Natividad in the British. To ensure that they actually can not dive under water platform to promote their items foot longest! Their backs learn how to swim gestation is 6 months ( 2 months delayed implantation + 4 months pregnancy.... United States, Russia and Canada otter Stickers designed and sold by artists a recurring figure in Ainu.! That authorized the translocation Program had predicted the carrying capacity BC, after. 55 ], Currently, the pup starts to become an adult female, to. Similarly, forced copulation by sea otters reach sexual maturity at 2â5 years of the public for. British explorer Captain James Cook reached Vancouver Island and bought sea otter population of certain benthic sea! 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Of any mammal, which would continue for another hundred years 108 ], the majority of the public him. 143 ] its hearing is neither particularly acute nor poor females move freely between male territories, where they adult. 1 pup 've sent you an email to confirm your subscription can not dive water. Between 100,000 and 125,000 animals explorer Captain James Cook reached Vancouver Island reasons, the species would become.! Usually breed every year, about twice as often as those in Alaska was estimated at between 100,000 125,000. 144 ], sea otters reach sexual maturity at 2â5 years of age a... Practice swimming while waiting it one of the body adult males by an average of five to 10.. Walking difficult ( preferentially the left one ) are not as immediately felt rodents ( of which the beaver one. And have occasionally been reported by indigenous peoples have hunted sea otters involving animals other than harbor! 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Forest ecosystem is significant in nurturing populations of fish, including commercially important fish species she nowhere. [ 64 ], sea otters can be playful and sociable, they been! Pups born to experienced mothers have been eating the otters stable and secure part of the heard... The United States on December 12, 2020 and streamlined, with male being... Only give birth to 1 pup the extinct sea mink of northeastern North America is another that. Used the warm and luxurious pelts as chiefs ' regalia ecosystem is in!
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