Sea Otter Enhydra lutris

The Sea Otter is native to marine coasts of the north and east pacific, some 90% of the population living off the coast of Alaska (subspecies Northern, shown). Remaining populations live off the Russian Northeast coast (Asian) and off lower western North America (Southern subspecies).

Sea Otters have dense, thick fur - the thickest of all animals - since they spend most of their lives at sea - cold northern seas - but don't have the layer of blubber of other marine mammals.

They are surprisingly large animals out of the water, more than the head and chest usually visible. A mustelid shape, they are a little shorter (1-1.5metres long plus tail) but much heavier (up to 50kg) than terrestrial Giant Otters. They have a flat, beaverlike rudder of a tail and webbed back feet; they can walk on all fours on land but sometimes prefer to haul themselves along.

They sleep at sea and hold hands, often in large aggregations, and wrap pups (or themselves) in living seaweed to save from drifting out into the ocean. They use rocks to crack open shellfish, carrying rocks and storing food on their chests or in loose skin around their armpits.