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.