Why do otters eat on their backs?
Sea otters dive to the ocean floor to retrieve food. They catch prey in their forepaws then bring it to the surface. A sea otter eats in the water, lying on its back, with its food on its chest. Smaller animals often eat less desirable food than larger animals, including discarded bits of food.Click to…
Sea otters dive to the ocean floor to retrieve food. They catch prey in their forepaws then bring it to the surface. A sea otter eats in the water, lying on its back, with its food on its chest. Smaller animals often eat less desirable food than larger animals, including discarded bits of food.Click to see full answer. Also, why do otters swim on their backs?Sea otters have webbed feet, water-repellent fur to keep them dry and warm, and nostrils and ears that close in the water. Sea otters often float at the water’s surface, lying on their backs in a posture of serene repose. They sleep this way, often gathered in groups.Similarly, how much does an otter eat? Sea otters eat about 20-30% of their body weight each day. Otters weigh 35-90 pounds (males weigh more than females). So, a 50-pound otter would need to eat about 10-15 pounds of food per day. The food sea otters eat can impact the entire ecosystem in which they live. Considering this, what do otters get eaten by? According to Defenders of Wildlife, “River otters primarily eat fish. They are also known to eat whatever is easiest to find, like crustaceans, mollusks, insects, birds, oysters, shellfish, crabs, crayfish, frogs, rodents, turtles and aquatic invertebrates.”Is an otter a predator?Predator and prey. Fast, agile swimmers with powerful jaws and sharp teeth, river otters have few natural predators when they are in the water. On land, however, they must be wary of predators such as bobcats, coyotes, mountain lions, wolves, black bears and foxes.
