Sea Otters' Hand-Holding Sleep Habit: Survival Strategy Explained

Karmactive Staff

Sea otters float together in groups of 10 to 100, holding hands while sleeping on their backs in the ocean.

Photo Source: Juan Montes (Pexels)

These playful animals grab each other's paws to stay together and avoid drifting away from their group while resting.

Photo Source: Luke Seago (Pexels)

Most sea otters are northern sea otters living off the coast of Alaska, with others found near California, Japan, and Russia.

Photo Source: Benny Stæhr (Pexels)

Sea otters use rocks like tools, storing them in skin pockets under their arms to break open mollusks shells for food.

Photo Source: Catherine Leclert (Pexels)

Sometimes, huge groups of over 200 sea otters, and up to 1,000, float together while holding paws.

Photo Source: Tom Sterckx (Pexels)

In the 1700s, around 150,000 to 300,000 sea otters lived in the ocean until hunters nearly killed them all for their fur.

Photo Source: David Bell (Pexels)

Today, only 3,000 sea otters swim near California's coast, putting them on the endangered species list.

Photo Source: Ellie Burgin (Pexels)

Sea otters help keep the ocean healthy by eating sea urchins, which would destroy underwater kelp forests if left unchecked.

Photo Source: Benny Stæhr (Pixels)

Out of all 13 types of otters in the world, only sea otters hold paws while sleeping in the water.

Photo Source: David Atkins (Pexels)

Sea otters rescued by Vancouver Aquarium still hold paws while floating, just like their wild relatives.

Photo Source: Abi Zara (Pexels)

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