Sea Otter

The sea otter seldom comes to land but lives nearly a mile offshore among the kelp beds of the Pacific coast of North America. When not feeding it rests floating on its back, and when about to go to sleep it wraps one or more of the large fronds of kelp around its body to anchor itself.

Sea otters differ from most marine animals in that they have no layer of fat or blubber under the skin to keep them warm.

Yet when resting, and especially when sleeping, there would be an excessive loss of body-heat but for the fact that a quantity of air is trapped in their long silky fur. This insulating layer is so essential to them that if the fur is damaged, so that it loses its insulating qualities, their lives are imperiled.

They are said sometimes to sleep with their hands over their eyes. It is not easy to see what purpose this serves. In an animal that rests habitually on its back in water it is hard to believe this is done to protect the eyes from spray. One can only suppose it may be a means of shading the eyes when the moon is full.