Sea Otters and Polar Bears

• Sea otters and polar bears are marine mammals belonging to order Carnivora

• The sea otter is the smallest marine mammal, which lacks a layer of blubber

• Instead, the sea otter has extremely dense fur, which traps air against the body for insulation– Hunted extensively for fur nearly to extinction

Sea Otters and Polar Bears

• Sea otters are found only in the Pacific Ocean, and have the densest fur of all animals

• Sea otters inhabit nearshore environments and dive to the sea floor to forage on mollusks, crustaceans and echinoderms (sea stars and urchins)– Must eat ~25-30% of their body weight per day

Sea Otters

Polar Bear

• Polar bears are semi-aquatic mammals that spend a good deal of their life drifting on sea ice in the Arctic

• They feed primarily on seals, which they stalk at breathing holes

• World’s largest land carnivore• Thick blubber; translucent fur, black skin!• Threatened by the loss of Arctic sea ice!