The southern sea otter is 40-50 inches in length, not including its tail. Its tail is 10-14 inches long. Female sea otters weigh about 65 pounds, males weigh about 80. When they stand they are one foot at the shoulder. The fur of the sea otter is reddish brown to black, and it is soft, dense, and fine. Sea otters spend most of their time in the water. They enjoy floating lazily on their backs, with their front paws folded over their chests. The southern sea otter has very strong eyes that are good above water and under water. The sea otter keeps his eyes open under water while he is swimming. Both of the front and hind feet are completely webbed.
Southern sea otters eat different things. Some of them are sea urchins, mussels, snails, clams, crabs, starfish, abalone and other shellfish. The sea otter can dive up to 180 feet to get food. It lies on its back and sometimes uses a rock to smash or crack open shells. The sea otter uses both its whiskers and nose to find food. He uses his whiskers to detect vibrations under the water, and he has a very keen nose to aid him when he is trying to find food.
The young sea otters are called pups. About nine months after mating the mother gives birth to a single pup. The pups are born at sea, with their eyes open, a full set of teeth, and a fur coat. Female sea otters give birth to one pup every two years.
Most sea otters live along the Asiatic and North American coasts of the Pacific Ocean. The sea otter and the river otter are in the weasel family. The sea otters scientific name is Enhydra lotris.
Some cool facts about the sea otter are that they are one of the only species known to use tools. The sea otter has 600,000 hairs in one square inch of his fur. Some sea otter skins are sold separate. The highest known price for a single otter skin is $1,700. Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp, when they sleep, so they don't drift away. Sea otters can live in water that is 30 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea otters are important because they help control the sea urchins which feed on kelp. If their were too many sea urchins the kelp forests would be destroyed.
The sea otters have to fight hard for their lives. Millions are killed every year. Humans kill them for their fur and they nearly came extinct at one time. Some are now protected by International Agreement, Endangered Species Act, and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.