AI overview
A sea otter is a marine mammal that lives in ocean environments. Sea otters are important members of their underwater ecosystems, helping to maintain the health and balance of marine habitats.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
sea otter
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumArthropoda
- ClassInsecta
- OrderLepidoptera
- FamilyNymphalidae
Habitatmarine
Observations16,868
Der Seeotter, Kalan oder Meerotter (Enhydra lutris) ist eine Raubtierart aus der Unterfamilie der Otter (Lutrinae). Er ist neben dem Küstenotter des Südpazifiks die einzige Otterart, die nur im Meer lebt. Seeotter gelten als intelligent und lernfähig, bekannt sind sie vor allem wegen des regelmäßigen Gebrauchs von Werkzeugen. Die Art war bis Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts wegen ihres Fells fast ausgerottet; nach dem Jagdverbot im Jahr 1911 erholten sich die Bestände wieder. Seeotter gelten heute als eine Schlüsselart.
via GBIF
Wikidata facts
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Article
The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30–100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean.
The sea otter inhabits nearshore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. It preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Its foraging and eating habits are noteworthy in several respects. Its use of rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools. In most of its range, it is a keystone species, controlling sea urchin populations which would otherwise inflict extensive damage to kelp forest ecosystems. Its diet includes prey species that are also valued by humans as food, leading to conflicts between sea otters and fisheries.
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Animal taxa named by Carl LinnaeusApex predatorsBiota of the Temperate Northern PacificCarnivorans of AsiaCarnivorans of North AmericaEndangered biota of AsiaEndangered fauna of CaliforniaEndangered fauna of North AmericaEndangered fauna of the United StatesExtant Pleistocene first appearancesFauna listed on CITES Appendix IIFauna of California