Sea Otters use rocks to pry abalone off rocks and to break open shells. There are 13 species of otters. Otters are believed to have been on earth for 30 million years. Otters live on every continent except Antartica and Australia. Otters are semi-aquatic members of the family Mustelidae.
Otters are cousins to weasles, badgers, ferrets, and mink.
Sea otters are one of the rare mammals who use tools. Interview at Ross Park Zoo with Deidre Flaherty, curator, who cares for two Cape Clawless Otters. In the links page, you can find links to tons of different other sites on the internet on otters. Our links page is the most comprehensive otter links page on the internet. Find out about all 13 species of otters.