They will also be active in darkness, often foraging around midnight as well. They are diurnal, preferring to forage in the early morning and the late afternoon while resting through much of the night and the middle of the day. Sea urchins are carnivorous predators, eating mostly sea urchins.

Otters are able to walk on land if required but are capable of spending their entire lives in the water, making them the only members of the weasel family able to do so. In general, they prefer relatively sheltered areas that will provide some protection from the most extreme ocean winds. Within this range, most sea otters live in coastal waters, although some live offshore as well. However, sea otters were driven near extinction by the fur trade that began in the 1740s and only exist in parts of their historic range, despite an ongoing comeback. The arch of their historic range even stretches across the North Pacific to Russia and Japan. Historically, sea otters were ubiquitous along the west coast of North America from Alaska to Mexico. Sea otters are the only members of the weasel family that doesnвЂ™t burrow and can spend its entire life in the water Distribution and Range Finally, much like humans and many other mammals, otters have sharp, pointed front teeth that aid in slicing and tearing their food as well as several flat, round molars used for crushing and grinding their food. They have short, clawed front paws with pads on their palms that aid in gripping their often slippery prey. It has many special adaptations that help it to thrive in its marine environment, including nostrils that it can close when diving for food and long, broad, webbed hind feet that help them to be such proficient swimmers. They have long whiskers, small ear flaps, and two small black eyes. Their fur is brown with shades of lighter tan and yellow on the heads of adults. The largest of this weasel family, sea otters weigh 31-100 lb (14-45 kg). Sea otters are a medium-sized member of the Mustelidae family. Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal species. Hunted nearly to extinction by the fur trade, sea otters are endangered and currently exist in only a portion of their historic range.

The sea otter is a well-known marine mammal with a historical range along the west coast of North America. Same-sex groups (rafts) up to 100 individuals

Sea star order family genus