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The sea otter is a charismatic marine mammal in the north Pacific Ocean and one of the largest species in the weasel family. It is also the only species in that family that lives its entire life in the ocean, preferring rocky shores and kelp forests.
Sea otters are foragers that eat mostly hard-shelled invertebrates, including sea urchins and a variety of clams, mussels, and crabs. They have an interesting method of eating their prey. Sea otters dive to rocky reefs, where they collect invertebrates and also a large rock. Upon returning to the surface, they float on their backs, with the rock on the stomachs. They use the rock as a table against which they smash their shelled prey to get to the soft parts that they can eat. Sea otters are often observed behaving in this manner, individually or in small groups.
Sea otters spend all of their time in the ocean, including sleeping. Since they must sleep at the surface, they often wrap themselves in giant kelp to keep from floating away.
Sea otters are quite large, weighing up to 100 pounds (45 kg) and reaching lengths of nearly 5 feet (1.5 m). Both mating and birth take place in the water, and males have harems of several females. Mothers nurse their young for up to eight months. When the mothers dive for food, they tie their babies into kelp to ensure that they will not float away.
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