Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Sea Otters are about four feet long and weigh an average of 65 pounds for males and 45 pounds for females. They’ve got strong canines and strong molars to tear and crush their food. Their lung capacity is 2.5 times the size of land mammals of the same size. They have good eyesight and use their whiskers to sense vibrations in the water. They’re known for the use of tools when eating. Because they love mollusks, sea otters will use rocks as hammers and anvils to help open the shells. Because they have no blubber, they must eat 25% of their body weight in food to maintain their high metabolism. Grooming is important as it forces air bubbles into their fur that acts as insulation (Friends of the Sea Otter).

Lead Region:  Alaska Region (Region 7)
Date Listed: Aug 9, 2005
Where Listed: southwest Alaska DPS (Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula coast, and Kodiak Archipelago)

  • States/US Territories in which the Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS is known to occur:  Alaska
  • US Counties in which the Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS is known to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS is known to occur:  ALASKA MARITIME NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ALASKA PENINSULA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ALASKA PENINSULA/BECHAROF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ALASKA PENINSULA/BECHAROF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-PAVLOF UNIT , IZEMBEK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE  ... Show All Refuges

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 13 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
10/08/2009 74 FR 51987 52012 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter
06/09/2009 74 FR 27271 27275 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter: Proposed rule; extension of comment period, notice of availability of draft economic analysis, and amended required eterminations.
05/08/2009 74 FR 21614 21615 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni): Proposed rule; reopening of public comment period; notice of public hearing.
12/16/2008 73 FR 76453 76469 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni); Proposed Rule
09/12/2006 71 FR 53755 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
Most Recent Special Rule Publications (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title
08/15/2006 71 FR 46864 46870 Special Rule for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter
08/09/2005 70 FR 46387 46392 Special Rule for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter: Proposed rule.

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search

No recovery information is available for the Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS.

» Critical Habitat

Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
10/08/2009 74 FR 51987 52012 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter Final Rule Active
12/16/2008 73 FR 76453 76469 Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni); Proposed Rule Proposed Rule Not Required

To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS

» Petitions

No petition findings have been published for the Northern Sea Otter, southwest Alaska DPS.

» Life History

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Last updated: February 9, 2010