A sea otter grooming its fur in Monterey Bay, California, captures one of the most important daily behaviors of this remarkable marine mammal. Sea otters rely on extremely dense fur rather than a thick layer of blubber to stay warm in the cold Pacific Ocean.
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| Sea otter grooming fur, Monterey Bay, California, United States |
Grooming helps clean and separate the fur while trapping insulating air close to the skin. Southern sea otters can have up to about one million hairs per square inch, making their coat one of the densest in the animal kingdom.
Quick Facts About Sea Otter Grooming
- Location: Monterey Bay, California, United States
- Species: Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)
- Habitat: Coastal waters, kelp forests, and estuaries
- Grooming: A daily activity essential for maintaining the insulating coat
- Fur density: Up to about one million hairs per square inch
- Purpose: Cleaning, waterproofing, and trapping insulating air
- Diet: Crabs, clams, mussels, sea urchins, snails, and other marine invertebrates
Monterey Bay is an important habitat for southern sea otters, which can be seen floating among kelp beds and coastal waters. Their grooming behavior is essential because maintaining clean, well-conditioned fur allows the coat to retain the air needed for insulation.