![]() Sea otters face predation by killer whales, sea lions, and sharks. Giant otter young are vulnerable to large cats, anacondas, and caimans. And what do otters have to fear? It depends on where they live. In fact, if their fur becomes matted with something like oil, it can damage their ability to hunt for food and stay warm.Īn otter’s rounded nose has whiskers above the lips that detect water current changes as well as the presence of prey or potential predators lurking in the water. Keeping their fur in good condition is important, so otters spend a lot of time grooming. Have you ever noticed that when otters come out of the water, their outer fur sticks together in wet spikes, while the fur underneath still seems dry? That’s because otters have two layers of fur: a dense undercoat that traps air and a topcoat of long, waterproof guard hairs. They are much more buoyant than river otters, which have to actively swim to keep afloat. Sea otters are good at floating on the water’s surface, as air trapped in their fur makes them more buoyant. Otters can stay submerged for five to eight minutes, depending on the species, because their heart rate slows, and they use less oxygen. ![]() ![]() They like to swim on their back and sides and can see just as well underwater as they can above. African Cape clawless otter. The name otter is derived from Old English and Indo European root words that also gave rise to the English word for water.Īlmost all otters have webbed feet, some more webbed than others, and they can close off their ears and nose as they swim underwater. Otters also have long, slightly flattened tails that move sideways to propel them through the water while their back feet act like rudders to steer. They spend most of their lives in the water, and they are made for it! Their sleek, streamlined bodies are perfect for diving and swimming. Otters are the only serious swimmers in the weasel family. ![]()
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