A sea otter eats a clam that it has taken from the shallow sandy bottom of Elkhorn Slough. Because sea otters have such a high metabolic rate, they eat up to 30% of their body weight each day in the form of clams, mussels, urchins, crabs and abalone. Sea otters are the only known tool-using marine mammal, using a stone or old shell to open the shells of their prey as they float on their backs.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
Image ID: 21724
Sea otter rests on the ocean surface while a crab stands on its abdomen. The otter has just pulled the crab up off the ocean bottom and will shortly eat it. Monterey.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 15069
Sea otter rests on the ocean surface while a crab stands on its abdomen. The otter has just pulled the crab up off the ocean bottom and will shortly eat it. Monterey.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 15070