Stats

Lifespan

10-20 yrs

Size

Large

Diet

Carnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

Colony

Biome

Coastal kelp forest

Range

North Pacific

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Speed

Status

Endangered

About

A marine mustelid that spends nearly its whole life floating on its back in coastal kelp forests, using a flap of loose skin under its forearm as a pocket to stash a favorite rock for cracking open shellfish.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   newborn

   A live-born newborn nurses on its mother's milk and depends on her for warmth and protection.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A weaned juvenile begins eating solid food and learning from its parents or group.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Carnivora

Family

Mustelidae

Genus

Enhydra

Species

Enhydra lutris