For all the sea otter enthusiasts, you may have noticed these adorable creatures using tools to crack open shells for food. They typically use rocks to achieve this, mainly to get to invertebrates like crabs, clams, and snails.
But the question arises – where do they find these rocks in the middle of the ocean? Do they dive down to hunt for rocks whenever they want a meal? It seems nature has a solution; otters have biological ‘pockets’ under their fur to store rocks and food. Is this true?
Verdict:
TRUE
Indeed, sea otters have biological pockets under their forearms, acting as built-in pouches for tools such as rocks and extra food.
A study noted their impressive innovation as even stranded juveniles had knowledge of stone tool use. Otters are also very particular when choosing rocks, often opting for stones within a specific size range.
They have favorite rocks and even pass these “collections” down to their offspring. These rocks play a significant role in their lives beyond serving as a practical mealtime tool – otters have been observed grooming their rocks, self-soothing by rubbing them against their body, and even playing with their collections.
The exact reasons behind such behaviors are still being studied, with some scientists purporting that frequent interaction with rocks helps otters maintain their dexterity, whereas some believe the animals are just having fun!
References:
1. https://animalqueries.com/do-sea-otters-collect-rocks/
2. https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/seaotteranatomy/
3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320707001796?via%3Dihub
4. https://www.aquariumofpacific.org/blogs/comments/chloe_the_sea_otter_demonstrates_otter_pockets
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