SEA OTTER

JESSICA ELIZABETH JOSEPH

VMF 12
 SCIENTIFIC
COMMON
NAME: Enhydra TYPE: Mammals DIET: Carnivore
NAME: Sea Otter
lutris

AVERAGE LIFE
SPAN IN THE
SIZE: 4 feet WEIGHT: 29.5 kg
WILD: Up to 23
years

SEA
OTTERS
 CHARACTERISTI
CS
Marine mammal found along the coasts of
the pacific ocean in north america and asia

Spends most of its time in water, but comes

to shore to sleep or rest

Often float and feed on other sea animals like

fish, mussels, urchins, etc. 

Very clean so they constantly groom

themselves, especially after feeding
 EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR
Behaviour Description
 Resting Floating on back. Otters head will remain dry whilst the majority of the body is submerged.
On water Eyes will be open and they can be looking around their environment. 

Resting Otter lying down either on stomach or back. If on stomach then all four limbs will be tucked
On land under the body. 

Feeding Resting on back in water or on land with food item on their stomach. Can involve using stones
to smash against the outside of food items to crack shells but not necessity.  

Foraging Otter has moved from the water’s surface moving down head first and utilises whiskers, nose
and forelimbs to touch obstacles.  These items are then held in the forelimbs as the animal
moves back to water surface. It no items are brought back up consider the previous movements
to be diving not foraging.  
Play ​ Two or more sea otters in close proximity (less than one body length away from each other) or
touching. These interactions can occur both on land and on water. Includes rolling over each other.
Running at each other as well a play fighting and pushing ​

Grooming -self​ Using mouth, tongue or forepaws to rub at sections of own fur. In water this is achieved whilst floating on
back. Can include intermittent bouts of rolling over in the water. ​

Allogrooming​ Using mouth, tongue or forepaws to rub at sections of a conspecifics fur. In water this can be achieved whilst
floating on backs with one individual placing their head and upper torso on the stomach of another.

Swim​ Movement through water, can either be on the surface of the water or underneath the surface. Utilises hind
limbs and tail primarily so little movement from forelimbs which hang down from the body.  ​

Locomotion ​ Movement on terrestrial environment. Movement of all four limbs. May be interspersed with occasional
moments of standing still up on hind legs to observe surroundings. If this stop and observe motion is less than
5 seconds long include it as part of locomotion. ​
Sleep​​ Either on back floating on the water or on back or stomach on land. If on water individuals will often
anchor by wrapping themselves in kelp or holding on to other individuals usually by linking forepaws.
Head will be rested on chest ​​

Dive ​​ Movement from terrestrial environment to water. Individual slides head first into the water. Is the link
between terrestrial locomotion and swimming ​​

Vocalisation ​​ Any noises made by the otters could be towards conspecifics or humans. Noises can be for any length of time
and are accompanied by opening of the mouth ​​

Alert ​​ Animal stands still either on hind legs as in photo or on all four limbs. Head is up and looking around the
environment. This must occur for longer than 5 seconds continuously. ​​

Interact with Individuals touching of sniffing any objects other than food items added to the enclosure. This can be both on
enrvironment ​​ land and in the water and can be a single animal or group interaction. ​​
Monterey Bay Aquarium
 OBSERVED BEHAVIOUR: ROCKY 
Resting Resting
Time Diving Playing Swimming Locomotion
(water) (land)
10:05 x
10:10 x
10:15 x
10:20 x
10:25 x
10:30 x
10:35 x
10:40 x
10:45 x
10:50 x
10:55 x
11:00 x
11:05 x
 Observed behaviour: DJ
Resting Resting Locomoti
Time Diving Playing Swimming
(water) (land) on
10:05 +
10:10 +
10:15 +
10:20 +
Click to add text
10:25 +
10:30 +
10:35 +
10:40 +
10:45 +
10:50 +
10:55 +
11:00 +
11:05 +
 CONCLUSIONS

OBSERVED:

Lot of swimming Playing and a Resting both on No observations

and floating little grooming land and in water made on feeding
 SOURCES
1 2 3
https://www.nationalgeographic.c https://www.montereybayaquariu https://theinnerotter.ucsc.edu/biol
om/animals/mammals/s/sea-otter m.org/animals-and-exhibits/live- ogy/general-biology/basic-behavi
/ web-cams/sea-otter-cam ors/video-ethogram