what plants do sea otters eat

Sea Otters have two types of hair. Despite this, most of the representatives of sea otters are mostly carnivorous. “Jim, you are asking the wrong questions,” Paine told him. They crack open clams and mussels with rocks they hold on their stomach—the only otter species to use rocks as tools. River Otters can be either diurnal or nocturnal, though most species are more active at night. Otters are largely solitary, semi-aquatic mammals that get most of their food from lochs, rivers or the sea. They leave behind desolate areas called urchin barrens. However, otters differ from similar species like beavers, muskrats, and nutria that feed on plants. One theory is that the sharks are simply mistaking otters for more nutritious prey like seals and sea lions, which are packed with calorific blubber. Sea otters, unlike other mammals that live in the sea, do not have any blubber or fat to keep them warm. But that isn't an issue for the talented sea otter, which cracks open the shells by banging them with rocks. Sea otters have no insulating fat, but trap air under their coasts as insulation. Sea otter swimming in Resurrection Bay Alaska. Some of these animals have hard shells, which protect them from predators. Diet of the Sea Otter. Sea Otter & Kelp The sea otter and kelp have a commensalistic relationship. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups. This can be up to 10 square miles though depending on where they live and how many people are in their raft. As is known, their diet includes more than 40 different species of marine animals. 5. What Do Swans Eat and Drink? Sea lions and seals feed on the fish that live in kelp forests. The sea otter has a lot of insulating fur to keep warm. See Answer. In fact, they are now recognised as … Otter scat is distinctive because of their diet. They use rocks and other hard objects to crack open crustaceans and mollusks to get at the fleshy parts within. Asked by Wiki User. The Scottish population has an unusually high proportion (perhaps 50% or more) of coastal-dwelling individuals, which feed almost exclusively in the sea. Eurasian otters feed mainly on fish. Sea urchins are related to starfish and look like small, purple hedgehogs. The kelp can flourish, providing habitat for many ocean organisms. They have roughly 850,000 – 1,000,000 hairs per square inch on their body. Kelp plants also shelter fish, sea urchins, and other creatures. Unlike most marine mammals, otters do not have blubber, so they need to consume about 25% (20 to 25 lbs) of their body weight each day just to stay alive. Many farmers and ranchers regard them as destructive pests because they kill calves, lambs, and other livestock, as well as pets. Sea otters must eat approximately 25% of their weight in food each day to support their high metabolism. Sea otters are especially interesting regarding their ability to use tools. Some other common items that they will eat include invertebrates, birds, and small sized animals. Asian small-clawed otters. 7. What Do Otters Eat Regularly? This can translate into a large amount of their prey removed from the ecosystem. Sea otters will eat virtually anything they can get their little paws on. A female sea otter and her pup on an iceberg in the winter. Sea Otters are extremely social, and have a tendency to congregate in groups of gender such as: the pups and females in a group and males in another group. Wiki User Answered 2012-06-07 22:55:54. seaweed. Sea otter fur is one of the densest and most amazing furs in the animal kingdom. Where do otters live? The longest recorded sea otter dive was 4 minutes, 2 and the deepest recorded sea otter dive was 318 feet (97 m) deep. What do otters eat? They may go to them occasionally but always return to what is called their home range. A rescued sea otter pup is taken to Alaska SeaLife Center to be treated. They prey on crustaceans by using pairs of rocks to crush the outer shells, easily accessing the soft flesh inside. Humans also kill sea otters when they use fishing gear that traps the otter or hit the otter with boats. sea otters eat sea urchins so if the otters went extinct the sea urchin population would grow too big and they would eat the plants faster that they could grow. The sea otter mainly hunts in the water on sea urchins, mollusks, crabs, snails and small fish. Top Answer. Photo by U.S. (See also Reproduction). 1. Otters are meat eaters. Sea otters have 850,000 – 1,000,000 hairs per square inch, the thickest fur or any mammal. Outside of fish, river otters will also eat crustaceans, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, turtles and a number of other aquatic life. Mutualism . Eurasian otters will generally live anywhere that has a source of unpolluted fresh water with a sufficient food supply. Sea otters eat urchins, abalone, mussels, clams, crabs, snails and about 40 other marine species. Sea otters eat prey by diving down to the bottom of the ocean and finding food there. 1. Estes was interested in sea otters, but he was not an ecologist. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight in food every day. Sea Otter & Kelp The sea otter and kelp also have a mutualistic relationship. In Washington, the transplants took, but the Oregon otters soon vanished. Sea otters can eat 25 to 30 percent of their body weight in one day, which would be equivalent to a 175-pound human eating 45 pounds of food in one day. It is true to say that they will eat some small invertebrates (small water beetles, pond skaters, etc....) every now and again, but this is quite rare. The sea otter uses the kelp as an anchor while they sleep. Sea otters’ diet includes sea urchins, crabs, mussels, and clams, which they’re known to crack open with a rock and eat … Add a Comment. Sea otters use rocks to crack open their prey as fast as 45 blows in 15 seconds. Also, they prey on snakes, carrion, grass, and fruit. It is very important to have all this insulating hair because unlike other animals Sea Otters do not have insulating blubber. In places where sea otters have disappeared, sea urchins will eat the kelp forest until it’s gone. This includes frogs, crayfish, and even crabs. They are well adapted to their riverine habitats, with webbed feet to help them swim and the ability to close their eyes and ears underwater. Sea Otters as a Keystone Species. The sea otters wrap themselves in the kelp so they do not float around while they sleep. They will also consume lizards and other items they can find on land when they need to. The grey whale will eat the abundant invertebrates and crustaceans in kelp forests. They gather the food in their paws and then bring it to the surface to eat. Sea otters eat many of the same things, but mostly sea urchins, abalone, crabs, fish, octopuses, mussels, and clams. Where Do River Otters Sleep at Night? One which forms a waterproof outer layer and the under fur is very dense to keep the animal insulated. Sea otters eat about 25% of their weight every day, and is arguably the number one cause in sea otter deaths, when they cannot forage enough food to feed themselves. Fortunately, sea otters have an appetite for sea urchins and they help to keep sea urchins in check, allowing the kelp to flourish and capture CO 2. Sea otters eat up to 30% of their body weight in … Otters eat from 15% to 25% of their body weight each day. It is not uncommon for anglers to have to fight river otters for their bait. Sea otters are voracious predators and they need to eat a lot to maintain their core body temperature. 3. 6. Sea otters learn to swim at 4 weeks of age. Sea otters eat 25 percent of their body weight each day in sea urchins, crabs, clams, snails and other invertebrates. As aquatic mammals, otters spend most of their time in the water. Apart from sea otters, coyotes eat just about anything, including deer, frogs, fish, rodents, and rabbits. They are known to eat clams, mussels, crabs, octopus, sea urchins, snails, and fat innkeeper worms. 5. He explained to Paine that he was thinking about studying how the kelp forests supported the thriving sea otter populations. When sea otters are underwater foraging for food, they make use of the loose skin under their armpits, using the area like pockets to store food as they continue their search. Sea otters use rocks to crack open the spiny shells of sea urchins. An otter must eat around 1–1.5kg of prey daily. Grey whales have also been observed in kelp forests, most likely using the forest as a safe haven from the predatory killer whale. Sea otters are known to carry rocks when they dive, to increase their weight when diving, as well as to crack open shells and protective armor, so they can eat the meat inside the shellfish. Staying warm is especially critical in the cold Californian and Alaskan coastal waters. These furry water lovers hunt mostly at night, following the scent of fish even into urban areas. First, they netted Alaskan sea otters and set 59 free off the coast of Washington State and 93 more near Oregon. When otters are present, urchins hide in crevices and snack on kelp scraps. Urchins eat kelp, and sea otters eat sea urchins. Sea otters are omnivorous, as they feed on algae and other aquatic plants. Swans are primarily herbivores – which essentially means that the main source of food is plant matter. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0. Bald Eagles . Sea otters often float at the water's surface, lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose. The kelp is not affected by this making it an example on commensalism. River otters eat mostly fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, and mollusks, with an occasional small mammal or bird. They eat plenty of fish and other water critters, such as crayfish, so you’ll spot bones, scales, and shells. Jim Estes, a student from the University of Arizona, met with Paine and described his research plans. Humans do not usually eat sea otters and generally kill them by accident. The only time the male and females are together is during mating. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that they indulge in food that can be found in and around rivers. Otters create latrines for themselves, so if you see a lot of otter scat- you’re likely near their home. Sea Otters eat, sleep, mate, and even give birth in the water. It is also important to not confuse their home range with their territory. Fish and Wildlife Service. Sea otters eat fish and marine invertebrates like crabs, urchins, sea stars, and abalone, as well as squid and octopuses. Photograph: Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images. The primary source of food for the Otter is fish. What plants do sea otters eat?

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