#0233 · 🦊 mammals

Sea Otter

🇳🇱 Zeeotter ·Enhydra lutris

ENendangered 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The sea otter ( Enhydra lutris ) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (31 and 99 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. Unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although it can walk...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 19,068iNaturalist observations
weight 45 kgadult, up to
length 1.48 madult, up to
threat ENendangered

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
19,068 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Weighs up to about 45 kg.
About 148 cm long.
Scientifically named in 1758 (268 years ago).
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.