Did
you know that the Sea
Otter (Enhydra lutris),
has the densest Fur Coat of
any Fur Bearing Mammal?
Did
you know that the Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris),
has the densest Fur Coat of
any Fur Bearing Mammal?
It is said that a Sea Otters fur
coat is so dense it consists of over 100,000 individual hairs
per square inch? These numerous long hairs actually trap a layer
of air between them to protect the Sea Otter from the cold water
it inhabits. This is one reason why Oil
Spills are so detrimental to Wild
Sea Otters. When Otter
Fur becomes coated with oil from a spill it prevents the
layer of air from forming and thus insulates the otter from the
cold water. In the majority of cases, Oil
Covered Otters actually die from hypothermia because their
natural insulating system is compromised. I love Sea Otters,
as they are one of the most endearing of all the Sea
Mammals. They are really unique in so many ways. For example,
Sea Otters like the North
American River Otter (Lutra Canadensis) and South
American Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis brasiliensis),
are classified as mustelids. One feature common to all mustelids
is a very prominent Anal Scent
Gland. For some reason, perhaps due to its primarily aquatic
lifestyle, the Sea Otter lacks this distinguished characteristic?
Anyone who works with Otters or any other mustelid without a
doubt becomes well aware of these Scent
Glands very fast. Mustelid
Carnivores definitely have a strong scent and when they
get excited will express their scent glands as a Defensive
Behavior. The Striped
Skunk, perhaps the most famous of all the mustelids is
well know for its powerful and noxious ability to clear the forest
when it gets in a defensive mood. Another really cool thing I
find interesting about the Sea Otter is the fact that it is the
only living carnivore with only 4 Incisor
Teeth in its lower jaw. Pretty cool! I love stuff like
that ;-) Sea Otters rule and nothing beats seeing a Baby
Sea Otter Pup floating on its mother’s belly in
a Pacific Kelp Bed. REMEMBER,
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