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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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๐ธ: @charlotte_oceans
The largest living cartilaginous fish is the whale shark, and it is also the largest living fish species overall. On average, they span about five to ten meters (17 to 33 feet) in length, but they can grow even bigger than this! They also do not hunt large prey like most other sharks. Instead, whale sharks are filter feeders that consume plankton. Their diet consists of extremely small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and eggs. They are also very gentle creatures and are not considered dangerous to humans.
Image: NOAA
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๐ค Sleep is essential for refreshing the mind and body, which is why nearly all animals sleep. Does that mean fish sleep too? While they donโt sleep the same way humans do, they do rest!
๐๏ธ The main difference between how humans and fish sleep, is that fish donโt close their eyes. Basically because they lack eyelids, which they donโt need underwater as dust canโt get in their eyes.
๐ Also, some fish โsleepโ during the day and only wake up at night, while for others, itโs the opposite. In any case, when they are โsleepingโ they become motionless and respond slowly or not at all to anything happening around them. You could see some fish floating in place, while others hiding in a safe spot that works as a nest.
๐ According to research, it seems that fish reduce their activity and metabolism while remaining vigilant to danger. These "suspended animation" phases may have the same restorative functions as sleep in humans.
๐ฆ Some fish, such as tuna and some sharks, must constantly swim to breathe. These fish are most likely sleeping with half their brain at a time, just like dolphins!
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