Sea Otter

B. C. O.

Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genius and Species
Works Cited
bridget rocks

Animal Name: Sea Otter

Kingdom: Animilia

• multicellular

• heterotrophs

• no cell wall

• cells organized into tissues

• complex movement

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Phylum: Chordata

• Possess a notochord that extends through most of the body

• symmetrical

• segmented body

• single hollow nerve chord

• tail projecting beyond anus at some point

• heart, digestive system

• exoskeleton

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Class: Mammilia

• live birth

• hair

• mammary glands

• 3 middle ear bones

• feed newborns with milk

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Order: Carnivora

• enlarged 4th upper molar and first lower molar

• simple stomach

• relatively large brains

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Family: Mustelidae

• relatively short legs

• long tail

• small ears and eyes

• short skulls

• webbed feet

• agile

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Genius and Species: enhydra/Enhydra lutris

    Isn't it fascinating that sea otters carry a  tool to crack open their food? The Sea Otter, from the phylum Chordata, is a smart and resourceful vertebrate. The Sea otter's physical characteristics and habitat are important to its survival.          Sea otters have many interesting physical characteristics that help them survive in the wild. For example, they have super- thick fur. This helps the otter by trapping air to keep the otter warm. Another example is the sea otter’s large lungs, which are 2-3 times the size of an equal sized land animal. This helps the animal because it is able to go underwater for long periods of time to look for food. The last example is 0it’s webbed back feet. This is useful for the otter because it helps it swim while on its back. The sea otter’s physical traits are amazing and very helpful in their lives.
    Where the sea otter lives is also crucial to its survival. For example, the otter lives in the ocean, mostly off the coast of California. This is important because the sea otter needs certain sea creatures for food. In addition, the otter can not live near oil spills. This is a crucial element because oil will interfere with the way the fur keeps the animal warm, and the otter will freeze. The last example is where the animal sleeps, which is in seaweed. This helps the otter by keeping it from floating away. The otter must have numerous elements to its habitat to survive.                                                                                              
    Sea otter's physical characteristics really help them, as well as the elements of thier habitat. The way they are made help them survive in the wild. Everyone needs to remember to protect the ocean from pollution or oil spills, because if this happens frequently, sea otters will become extinct. 

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Fun Facts

• tail makes up a third of its body

•  

Haiku Sea Otters swimming  In the vast, shimmering sea How graceful they are!

Works Cited

Text:

Aren Gunderson. Enhydra lutris. May 2000. University of Northern Iowa. April 2, 2003 <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/enhydra/e._lutris$narrative.html>

Sea Otter. 2002. Yahooligans. 16 Apr. 2003 <http://www.yahooligans.com/content/animals/species/3908.html>.

Pictures

Friends of the Sea Otter. 1997. friends of the sea otter. 16 Apr. 03 <http://www.seaotters.org/Otters/index.cfm?FuseAction=Photos>. 

Sea Otter Picture Gallery. classrom at sea. 16 Apr. 03 <http://classroomatsea.noaa.gov/ronbrown/scdsites/norarach/picture.html>

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