sea otters (sea otters) inhabits tropical and temperate zone of the Pacific coast of South America.With all the measures taken to protect these animals and their legal protection and the hunt for them continues today.They continue to destroy because of the fur and skin, in addition, as a competitor in the production of shellfish and fishing.
Description
It is the smallest of the otter genus Lontra.It has a cylindrical, compact, elongated body, strong and short legs.Her fur is thick with hard hair, the undercoat of up to 12 mm, the guard hair - up to 20 mm.Sea otters, whose image is represented in this article podshestok remain dry even when wet themselves already.No fat reserve.
head of the animal is flat, round rounded, set low, small ears on the sides of the head.Short wide muzzle with very long whiskers, thick, short neck with wide head.Small round eyes set high, with excellent visibility.
tail her conical shape, thick and muscular.According to the five fingers with sharp claws on strong paws are webbed.At sea otter front legs shorter than the rear.His nostrils and ears are closed when immersed in water.
large teeth adapted for tearing prey.
main enemies of their enemies - it orcas (killer whales).In young animals also hunt sharks, sea animals and birds of prey.
Food
Sea otters are omnivorous, they get food in the ebb-tidal zone.The animal's diet includes crabs, clams, water birds, fish and other organisms that live in the sea.It happens that it comes in the river, searching for freshwater shrimp.During maturation of fruit plants of the family eats the fruits of bromeliad.
Behavior
Sea otters - a secretive and shy animals that are diurnal (although occasionally otters can be active at dawn and dusk).In the water, they spend 70% of their lives, while doing procuring of food and hunting.Swim, holding the upper back and head.
his prey animal catches an average of 300 meters from the coast, sinking to 30-50 m, while diving into the bush near the rocks and seaweed.The dive lasts up to 30 seconds.This type of stones for breaking the shells of crustaceans uses.
Although sea otters mostly aquatic animals, they occasionally travel to the beach, moving away from him at 30 m, while in pursuit of prey and go for 500 m. Animals on land good rock climbing.They like to rest in the vegetation on the shore, lying close to the water.
an otter's den is a burrow and tunnel, where one of the manhole displays in a thicket.While she does not hunt, she is resting in dense vegetation."House" is used for childbirth, feeding offspring, sleep and rest.Sea otters are very fond of lying in the sun, which snuggles on the rocks.Their burrows and they are satisfied with the rookery where you can easily find food.
As sea otters sleep
In the summer, when, where animals spend almost all the time in the water, the way they sleep looks incredibly touching.Young mother sleeping on his chest, gently touching her chin, head, and adult sea otters keep tabs on one another.Of course, this is not love, it is a necessity - until the animal is asleep, it can carry over sea very far.But just how pathetic it looks plexus feet!
If the animal hunts alone, it is time to sleep is preparing a semblance of an anchor.Otter long turns in the algae, thus reeling them in your body, and then goes to sleep quietly in this original "cocoon".
social structure
animal leads a solitary life.It should be noted that the average density of the population - up to 10 otters per kilometer of coastline.Periodically, the animals are found in groups of 2-3 individuals, but not anymore.They mainly inhabit each other at a distance of 200 meters.
These animals are not territorial, they are without any aggression to new individuals of the species on the site.Several females can easily coexist on the same property, which includes hunting, holes, and recreation.Periodically otters labeled feces and urine den and rocks, but more often they defecate where rest.
Reproduction
little is known about it, and the facts that science has yet to establish different observers interpreted ambiguously.Basically, sea otters are monogamous, but in places with large concentrations of them (for the abundance of food resources), can often be observed and the development of polygamous relationships.During mating and pair frequently observed fights between males and observed the struggle between mate pairs.
appearance of pups occurs in a hole in the den.The female 2 pairs of nipples.Often, the family changes refuge in search of the best places for food, the parents in this case transferred to young teeth or swim on his back on the sea, keeping them in the belly.
Progeny
The female gives birth to 2 puppies (and sometimes 4-5).During lactation lasts several months.Young people with parents is ten months.This young adult generation brings food and teaches them to hunt.
Benefits Human
As mentioned earlier in this article, many years persecuted the sea otter because of its skin and fur, and kill as many as a competitor in the production of shellfish and fishing.An animal caught in a young age, it is very easy to domesticated, trained, and is also used by fishermen in the future.
population
should be noted that sea otters have been made in the documents of CITES and the International Red Book, but hunting them continues despite the measures taken on the protection of species laws.
threat
- active harvesting of algae growing on the banks (especially with respect to kelp).
- shores of heavy metal pollution.
- permanent loss of habitat as a growing tourism industry has resulted in the development of water sports, the increase in coastal construction and so forth.
- Harassment fishermen, seeing a competitor in the sea otter.
Protect wildlife!
