THE SEA OTTER IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN 



297 





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Figure 112. — Daily food consumption of a 39-lb. female sea otter (Susie) 

 during a midwinter month (February) and during a midsummer month 

 (August). More food was always available than was consumed. Average 

 consumed in August, 8.8 lb.; average consumed in February, 9.5 lb. 



3,200 calories per day were consumed in these winter and summer 

 months, respectively, i.e., about 5 percent more in February than 

 in August. The seasonal variation in consumption of food, how- 

 ever, was inconsistent (fig. 113) probably because water temper- 

 atures did not fluctuate greatly (seldom near freezing in winter to 

 about 65° F. in summer), when compared to temperature fluctu- 

 ations in other environments. 



The average daily intake per month varied from 7.2 lb. (3.24 

 kg.) to 9.3 lb. (4.24 kg.), or from about 183 to 240 g. per kg. of 

 body weight per day. It is interesting to note that dogs of 10 to 

 20 kg. daily require about 70-80 calories per kg. of body weight 

 and the sea otter requires about 190 calories per kg. per day. 



From December 1957 until September 1958, a nearly adult 

 male, Dave, shared Susie's quarters. During the period January 



