where do they live?
The Sea Otters are an iconic species, that represents the beauty and diversity of the marine life found along coastlines around the world.
The Otters have critical importance to the health and stability of the marine ecosystem, which is why they are considered to be a keystone species. They eat invertebrates such as sea urchins that graze on kelp. Without sea otters, the grazing animals can destroy kelp forests which can negatively impact the wide diversity of animals that depend on the kelp habitat to survive. The role of the Sea otters in their habitats is very important as many other marine species rely on the otters for survival. |
They are often seen with a clam or mussel and a rock that has been deftly snared from the ocean floor. Otters will place the rock on their chests, and repeatedly smash the shellfish against it until it breaks open to reveal the tasty meal inside. They also dine on such aquatic creatures as sea urchins, crabs, squid, octopuses, and fish.