THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 259 



70 



60 



50 



40 



30 



20 



2 



- 10 



DEC. JAN. FEB. 



1961 1962 



MONTH OF DEATH 



MAR 



Figure 100. — Age and sex of sea otters dying in the winter-spring period of 

 1961-62. A — juvenile male; B — juvenile female; C — juvenile, sex unknown; 

 B — adult male; E — adult female. 



mutilated by scavengers and the reproductive organs removed, 

 the sex of the animal was in question. On partially mutilated car- 

 casses, the likelihood that a male might be identified was greater. 

 Eagles, for example, usually remove the viscera first. The genitalia 

 of the females are easily taken, but the baculum of the male is 

 attached to the ischium by a strong ligament composed of the 

 ischio- and bulbo-cavernosus muscles. These parts may remain 

 attached to the skeleton, identifying it as a male for weeks longer 



