30 



NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



1 year old and weighing 22 pounds, was liberated in cold water 

 (0° C.) on 9 April 1955. The fur had become saturated with filth 

 after 8 days in captivity. Within 1 minute after entering the 

 water the otter uttered loud distress screams and swam toward 

 our dory. After she was retrieved she was placed on dry straw. 

 When we returned to the ship, about 20 minutes later, the otter 

 was unconscious. The rectal temperature was 30.3° C. (86° F.). 

 In a warm room, the fur was vigorously rubbed and dried with a 

 towel and consciousness was restored. At 0700 the following 

 morning the rectal temperature was 38.5° C. (99° F.) ; the animal 

 appeared weak but ate. She was kept in a warm room (about 

 22° to 24° C. or 72° to 75° F.) and given almost constant attention 

 until she died on 15 April. During this period her body temperature 

 fluctuated erratically each day from 30° to 36° C. (86° to 96° F.). 

 W^hen her temperature was low, I recorded that she was "almost 

 in a coma." Apparently after chilling, the temperature control 

 mechanism of this otter was upset. 



Blood quantity 



An approximation of the blood content of sea otters was obtained 

 from five freshly killed animals (table 9). All appeared to be in 

 normal health when killed. The technique used in each case was 

 the same: After capture the animal was given a lethal injection 

 of Lethol. When the animal lost consciousness, it was weighed 

 and measured. The thoracic cavity and heart were opened. The 

 animal was suspended, by means of lines attached to each leg, 

 over a container into which the blood drained. In all cases the 

 heart was still beating when the incisions were made. The blood 

 weight and volume were measured directly. 



The percentage of blood weight to body weight of four of the 



Table 9. — Blood quantity in sea otters 



[The weight of blood is minimal. The blood was drained from animal directly into a container. 

 No correction was added for the slight amount that was spilled, or for the blood remaining 

 in tissues] 













Percent, 













blood weight 



Collection 







Blood 



Body 



of body 



number 



Age 



Sex 



weight 



weight 



weight 









Grams 



Grams 





59-62 



Adult 



male 



2,694 



31,297 



8.6 



59-156 



Juvenile 



do-- 



767 



11,566 



6.6 



59-48 



Adult 



female 



8,106 



28,122 



1 28.8 



59-60 



-do . . 



do 



2,100 



20,978 



10.0 



59-157 



- do- - 



.do_. 



1,531 



20,865 



7.34 



1 Apparently this animal was abnormal. Pathological conditions such as hydrothorax and 

 heart failure occur in other mammals. The large quantities of fluids that accompany these con- 

 ditions may be difficult to distinguish from blood. 



