THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 79 



Figure 40. — While drying its pelage, a fold of skin is pressed between the 

 palms of the forepaws. Water expelled from the fur is removed with the 

 tongue. (KWK 61-10-10) 



when a newly captured animal is attempting to escape from a net. 

 The snarl or growl is audible only a few meters away. 



HISSING (NONVOGAL) 



Females hiss during capture, after capture, and before becoming 

 tame. The sound is similar to a cat's hiss (as noted by Steller in his 

 Journal) but more explosive and of short duration. The sound is 

 characteristic primarily of females and juveniles. If a person ap- 

 pears unexpectedly near a caged otter the hiss may be uttered in 

 the first moment of fright. 



GRUNTING 



When a hungry animal is eating voraciously it utters soft grunt- 

 ing sounds that appear to denote satisfaction. In the male this 

 appears to be equivalent to the cooing of the female. 



