Animals mammals otters 4. The sea otters fur also consists of two layers. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic aquatic or marine with diets based on fish and invertebrates. They also eat small mammals and birds. Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily lutrinae.
In the wild the distribution range of this species includes india taiwan and southern china. A member of the weasel family the sea otter is the smallest marine mammal in north america. Otters are largely solitary semi aquatic mammals that get most of their food from lochs rivers or the sea. The southern or california sea otter ranges along the coast from san mateo county southward through monterey county and down to santa barbara county.
Unlike other marine mammals the sea otter does not have a layer of blubber to keep it warm so the sea otter has to rely on its dense fur to keep the cold out. There are 13 known species of otter that inhabit areas all around the world. A sea otter has a metabolic rate much higher than most mammals of similar size and must consume large quantities of food. Adult sea otters may eat as much as 9 kg 20 lbs of food each day.
Also known as oriental small clowed otters these otters are often seen in zoos which makes them one of the more familiar otter species for many people. Most otters live in dens built by other animals such as beavers that are dug into the ground that have many channels and dry inner chambers. The sea otters from north america have been tracked journeying as far as southern japan. The fur of the sea otter is so thick that no water actually touches the skin of the sea otter.
Most otter species come ashore to give birth in dens which sometimes have been used by other animals such as beavers. There are 13 otter species around the world including the giant river otters north american river otter asian small clawed otter european otter japanese river otter and african clawless otter as well as many less well known species. Lutrinae is a branch of the weasel family mustelidae which also includes badgers honey badgers martens minks polecats and wolverines. The scottish population has an unusually high proportion perhaps 50 or more of coastal dwelling individuals which feed almost exclusively in the sea.