1The Cutest Anchors in the Ocean
Did you know that a group of floating sea otters is called a "raft"? Because they spend almost their whole lives in the water, staying together is a matter of survival! In the cold Pacific Ocean, currents can be very strong and unpredictable. To make sure they do not wake up miles away from their family, sea otters hold paws to create a living chain. Sometimes, they even wrap long strands of giant kelp—a type of underwater plant—around their bodies like a seatbelt. This keeps them anchored to the spot while they take a cozy nap on the surface.
2A Million Hairs for Warmth
While most sea animals like whales or seals have a thick layer of blubber (fat) to stay warm, sea otters do things differently. They have the densest fur in the entire animal kingdom! Imagine having nearly one million hairs on a tiny patch of skin the size of a postage stamp. Because their fur is so thick, water never actually touches their skin. They spend a huge part of their day grooming themselves to blow air bubbles into their fur, which acts like a built-in puffer jacket. If their fur gets dirty, it loses its ability to trap heat, which is why otters are some of the cleanest animals in the sea!
3Clever Tools and Secret Pockets
Sea otters are one of the very few animals on Earth that know how to use tools! They love to eat crunchy snacks like sea urchins, crabs, and clams, but those shells are hard to break. To solve this, they find a favorite flat rock and place it on their tummies while floating on their backs. They then smash the shellfish against the rock until it pops open! These clever critters even have a loose fold of skin under their front legs that acts just like a pocket. They use this "pouch" to store their lucky rocks and extra snacks so they can keep their paws free for swimming and holding onto their friends.
