THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 81 



Figure 42. — Near the end of a grooming period the sea otter rests belly down 

 at the surface, bends the head to the belly, and vigorously blows air into 

 the fur. At the same time it scrubs the fur on both sides with the forepaws. 

 Note bubbles of exhaled air on water and splash caused by scrubbing paw. 

 (KWK 61-10-26) 



too much to be held under the left forelimb, did the otters place 

 food under the right forelimb. 



I have watched through calm, clear water while both captive 

 and wild otters gathered food from the bottom. In all cases the 

 right paw appeared to be used dominantly in gathering food and 

 placing it under the left forelimb. Both paws were used to pick 

 the food from the bottom, then with the right paw the food was 

 pushed under the left forelimb. 



When food was eaten on the surface, the food item was retrieved 

 from the "chest pouch*' under the left forelimb by the right paw, 

 aided by the left paw, then held between both paws while being 

 eaten. The teeth were usually employed to break the shells of 

 small sea urchins. Before a large hard-shelled green sea urchin 

 was eaten, however, the top of the urchin was cradled in the left 

 paw while pressure was exerted by the heel and sometimes the toes 

 of the right paw to crush the test around the oral opening of the 

 urchin. The urchin was rotated against the left palm, so that the 



