{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "sea-otter",
  "name": "Sea Otter",
  "scientificName": "Enhydra lutris",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The sea otter is a marine mammal of the North Pacific coast and the smallest marine mammal, famous for floating on its back, using rocks as tools to crack open shellfish, and holding hands while resting. It has the densest fur of any animal, with up to a million hairs per square inch, and is a keystone species that keeps kelp forests healthy. Sea otters typically live 10 to 20 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Endangered",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Mustelidae",
    "genus": "Enhydra"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 45,
    "lengthM": 1.4,
    "topSpeedKmh": 9,
    "lifespanYears": 20
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Enhydra lutris"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Coastal North Pacific and kelp forests"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "10–20 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "14–45 kg (31–99 lb)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "About 9 km/h (5.5 mph) swimming"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Endangered (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Coastal waters of the North Pacific, from California and Alaska to Russia and Japan.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "Doroff, A. & Burdin, A. (2015). Enhydra lutris. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.",
      "url": null
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Enhydra lutris. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Enhydra_lutris/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Nowak, R. M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press.",
      "url": null
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sea-otter/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sea-otter/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}