Sea otters use tools to open hard-shelled prey, saving their teeth, research reveals

The behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is most seen in females and sheds light on the threatened species

By Dani Anguiano in Los Angeles
Published Thu 16 May 2024 15.48 EDT

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/sea-otters-prey-teeth#img-1

Floating on its back in the waters of California’s Monterey Bay, a sea otter takes a shelled animal and strikes it against a rock sitting on its chest to break open the prey.

This behavior, documented in footage from researcher Chris Law, is seen in relatively few animals and allows the otter to access food without damaging its teeth. A new study, which will be published in the journal Science on Friday, sheds light on the threatened species’ tactics.

Researchers found that when there’s a decline in their preferred food sources, such as abalone and sea urchins, sea otters that use tools are able to consume larger prey like crabs and clams and reduce dental injuries. Most sea otters that do this are female, according to the study. That is probably because the tools allow them to overcome a smaller body size and weaker biting ability to meet calorie demands, said Law, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, who led the study.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/16/sea-otters-prey-teeth