sea otter
Japanese Name:
ラッコ
Romaji Name:
rakko
Description
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The otter is a small, playful mammal that lives in rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. It has thick fur to keep it warm in cold water. Otters are excellent swimmers and use their webbed feet and strong tails to move quickly in water. They eat fish, crabs, and other small aquatic animals. Otters are known for their playful behavior, often sliding on mud or ice and using tools like rocks to open shells.
History
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Sea otters are native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean, including areas like Alaska, Canada, Russia, and Japan.
Historically, sea otters were heavily hunted for their incredibly dense and soft fur, which is one of the thickest in the animal kingdom. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the fur trade severely depleted sea otter populations, especially along the coasts of North America and Russia.
By the early 20th century, sea otters were near extinction, but conservation efforts starting in the 1910s helped protect and gradually restore their populations.
Today, sea otters are recognized as a keystone species because they help maintain the balance of kelp forest ecosystems by preying on sea urchins and other invertebrates.