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Sea otters are the smallest marine mammal and are most closely related to river otters.
Sea otters have adapted to their marine environment in several ways. Their teeth are designed for crushing hard-shelled food such as clams, urchins and crabs. Their skeletal structure is loosely articulated and lacks a clavicle which allows for increased flexibility in swimming and grooming. The forelimbs are used primarily for grooming and foraging instead of swimming. The hind feet are flattened and resemble flippers with an extension of the fifth digit which allows them to swim more efficiently on their backs on the surface of the water.