AnimalID

Name

5414

Southern Sea Otter

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Origin:

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IsClimber:

IsJumper:

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Description:

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is the salt water member of the otter family. The largest member of the family Mustelidae, the sea otter is closely related to weasels, skunks, and badgers.

An adult sea otter can grow to over four feet long and weigh over 80 pounds. Some sea otters live over 20 years. The coat of the sea otter is two-layered. The bottom layer is of thick fur, denser than the fur of any other mammal. This undercoat has approximately one-half million hairs per square inch of coat. The undercoat protects the otter against hypothermia and is vital for survival. The upper layer of fur is made up of sparser, longer guard hairs. Guard hairs are usually silver or white, standing out in stark contrast to the light brown or black undercoat. As sea otters age, their coats become whiter in small patches. This is known as grizzling.

Sea otters are well designed for their aquatic life. Instead of rear paws, they have wide webbed flippers. Their small forepaws have retractable claws. Beneath each foreleg is a small flap of skin that serves as a pouch for food. The Otter’s ears and nostrils close when it dives underwater.

During the Miocene and Pliocene ages of history, ancestors of the sea otter lived throughout the world’s oceans. Today, sea otters can only be found in the North Pacific, in coastal regions from California through Alaska and from Russia to Japan. Sea otters are most comfortable in the water. They even sleep floating on their backs, anchored in kelp beds. However, they do often "haul out" on land. Slow and clumsy on the shore, they choose haul-out sites far from human habitation. Sea otters are often seen sharing rocks with harbor seals. Their brown coats blend in with the algae-covered rocks they sun on.

Sea otters are carnivores, feeding on crustaceans (like crabs), bivalves (like clams, mussels, and abalone), mollusks (like octopi and squid), echinoderms (like sea urchins), and fish. Although their teeth are designed for eating hard foods, sea otters will also use rocks and shells as tools to pry their prey open. Sea otters are often at risk of predation in the water by sharks and other large carnivores, and while hauled out by bears, coyotes, and birds. The remains of young sea otters have been found in the nests of bald eagles.

Sea otter pups are at a very high risk of predation their first few weeks of life, since they don’t learn to swim until four to five weeks of age. Until that time, they often ride on their mother’s chests while in the water. Even after learning to swim on their own, pups stay near their mothers for another six months to a year. During this time they learn to hunt and to open hard-shelled foods, and they slowly gain their independence.

Humans may still be the sea otter’s greatest enemy. Although the sea otter’s status as a protected species protects against over-hunting, humans still threaten the lives of these animals. As human activities remove more of the habitats used for haul outs, the sea otter becomes more at risk. An oil spill can kill huge numbers of sea otters, since a sea otter with an oily coat will quickly die of hypothermia. Fortunately, sea otters have both mated and given birth in captivity. Humans may yet be able to make up for what they have taken from these animals.

Attractiveness Adult:

Attractiveness Young:

Initial Happiness:

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Captivity:

Crowd:

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ClimbsCliffs:

General Information

Building an Exhibit

The Life Cycle

Who do they like to live with and eat?

To build a good animal exhibit you need to ask a few questions: (click them for the answers)

Which tank wall is suitable for this animal?     Remember that all tanks need a tank filter!

How big should the exhibit be and what Depth should the tank be?

What foliage should be used?

What rocks should be used?

What shelter does the animal need?

What toy does the animal like?

Does this animal perform in a show?

Yes

TankWallName

Purchase Cost

See Through

Height

Strength

Life

Cost Effective

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

Animal Density

Min

Number of Animals/Exhibit

Max

20

1

3

Terrain Name

Value

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Rocks

Foliage

Exhibit Size

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ID

Value

TreeName

Foliage Effect

Cost/ Square

Cost Effective

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

ID

Value

RockName

Size X

Size Y

Rock

Rock Effect

Purchase Cost

Cost Effective

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Who do they like to live with and eat?

Shelter ID

Shelter Name

Shelter Value

Shelter Effect

Purchase Cost

Capacity

none

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ToyID

ToyName

ToyValue

PurchaseCost

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ReproductionChance:

SickChance:

ReproductionInterval(months):

SickChange:

HappyReproduceThreshold:

DeathChance:

Offspring:

TimeDeath(months):

BabyToAdult(months):

SkipTrickHappiness:

50

SkipTrickChance:

10

SalinityChange:

SalinityHealthChange:

PooWaterImpact:

MurkyWaterThreshold:

MurkyWaterChange:

MurkyWaterHealthChange:

VeryMurkyWaterThreshold:

ExtremelyMurkyWaterThreshold

VeryMurkyWaterChange:

ExtremelyMurkyWaterChange

VeryMurkyWaterHealthChange:

ExtremelyMurkyWaterHealthChange:

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Compatible Animals

Prey Animals

mermaid

10

KeeperFoodType:

Fish

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