You might be curious to learn that sea otters have been known to hold hands. It sounds pretty cute, right? But even people who already knew that they held hands don’t necessarily know why they do it. The answer is fairly logical, and if you know that they typically sleep in the water, you might even be able to guess it. Sea otters hold hands when they’re sleeping so that the currents don’t cause them to drift apart.
Why Do Sea Otters Hold Hands While Sleeping?
There are a few dangers to losing another sea otter when asleep, including the possibility that another mate could come along and win the sea otter’s affection. Additionally, there’s an increased risk of becoming prey when a sea otter is alone. When they stay together in groups, they’re more able to protect themselves and each other from an attack from a shark or killer whale. Sea otters are also more equipped to stay away from land, where hunters and land predators could see a sleeping otter as an ideal target. Animals like coyotes enjoy sea otters as a meal, and hunters appreciate sea otters’ thick coat, which often sells for a high price.
How Do Sea Otters Decide Who to Hold Hands With?
Sea otters don’t hold hands with just any other otter, though. They typically keep it all in the family. Male sea otters hold hands with their female mates so that another male doesn’t steal her attention because the competition for females can be fierce. Sea otters will also hold hands with other family members, creating what’s called a raft. This raft of otters ensures that all members are safe. Adult sea otters will hold hands with their offspring unless the pup is still very young. If the otter pup is still very young, it will sleep on a parent’s stomach because its paws are too small to hold hands with the parent’s much larger hands.
Do All Otters Hold Hands While Sleeping?
You might be interested to know that not all species of otters necessarily hold hands. For instance, it’s not known whether or not river otters hold hands because they have underground dens that prevent us from observing whether or not they hold hands while sleeping. It does, however, make less practical sense for otters living underground to hold hands because they don’t have to be concerned with drifting from their family members.
What Adaptations Do Sea Otters Have That Help Them Stay In the Water?
Sea otters, on the other hand, rarely leave the water, and they have adaptations that help them stay warm and dry even when in the water for long periods of time. First of all, the thick fur makes it ideal for them to stay dry because it’s water-repellant. Additionally, they spend lots of time grooming so that their fur is facing in the same direction. Sea otters also have ears and nostrils that can close in the water.
What Other Behaviors Do Sea Otters Use to Keep Them Safe While Sleeping?
The behavior of sea otters while sleeping is also designed to help them stay safe while in the water. First of all, when they want to sleep, they entangle themselves in seaweed and kelp, which is anchored to the sea floor. This vegetation will prevent them from drifting even when sleeping in small groups. Since sea otters are social creatures, they see hand-holding as beneficial to everyone involved, and they only rarely don’t hold hands. On these occasions, they’ll place their paws on their eyes to help them sleep.
What Other Activities Do Sea Otters Do On Their Backs?
While sea otters on their backs are often sleeping, they actually take this pose during other activities. For instance, sea otters might have food, such as a clam, that they try to get open while floating on their backs. They might also play or groom themselves in this pose.