What is the physical adaptation of a sea otter?

Answer 1

The Sea otter or Kalan (Enhydra lutris) is a large otter native to the North Pacific, from northern Japan and Kamchatka east across the Aleutian Islands south to California.

Generally sticking to shallow coastal waters of no more than about 55 meters in depth, sea otters are found most often in areas with rocky Coastlines and thick kelp forests; barrier reefs and intertidal areas are also inhabited. These otters may be considered a keystone species; they control the population of certain invertebrates which would otherwise run amok if unchecked. Chief among these invertebrates are sea urchins and abalone, a favorite prey of the otters. To eat prey in shells they often use rocks, which sit on their stomach, to break open the shell in order to get the animal inside.

Crabs, mussels, scallops, cephalopods, fish, chiton, and snails are also prey to the sea otter. Individuals may show finicky preferences; despite this, they require 20-25% of their body weight in food each day, and they may forage for prey as often as every 5 hours. Their metabolism is higher than that of otters in captivity, and is 8 times the level in comparatively sized terrestrial mammals. Part of this may be because they have the lowest assimilation efficiency of carnivores (82%), and their gut transit time is only 3 hours. Also these small mammals lose heat easily to their aqueous environment because of water's high thermal conductivity. Sea otters consume more seawater than most other marine mammals. This is likely because of high urea production from a high protein diet, as well as their prey having a higher electrolyte composition than fish. Their kidneys are comparatively larger to other marine mammals in order to offset this.

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Answer 2

Sea otters have several adaptations designed for life in the water. They have watertight fur for insulation, they have webbed feet for swimming, as well as nostrils and ears that can close to keep water out. They also have a short, thick, and slightly flat tail.

Besides aquatic adaptations, sea otters are very intelligent and one of the select group of animals known to use tools (sea otters usually have a favorite rock that they use to crack seashells).

Answer 3

they have fur that keeps them very warm plus im awesome

Answer 4

Fur to keep it warm in the water. A sleek body and tail. Teeth to eat what it wants to eat (oysters). Claws to open those oysters.

Answer 5

it gets lonnger claws for grip