Sea otter

Sea otter
Otter Ot"ter ([o^]t"t[~e]r), n. [OE. oter, AS. otor; akin to D. & G. otter, Icel. otr, Dan. odder, Sw. utter, Lith. udra, Russ, vuidra, Gr. "y`dra water serpent, hydra, Skr. udra otter, and also to E. water. [root]137, 215. See {Water}, and cf. {Hydra}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any carnivorous animal of the genera {Lutra}, {Enhydra}, and related genera of the family {Mustelidae}. Several species are described. They have large, flattish heads, short ears, and webbed toes. They are aquatic, and feed on fish. The sea otter ({Enhydra lutris}) also eats clams, crabs, starfish, abalone, and other marine animals; they may come to the surface, and lying on their backs using the stomach as a table, may be seen cracking open the shell of its prey with a rock. The common otter of Europe is {Lutra vulgaris}; the {North American otter} (or American otter) is {Lutra Canadensis}, which inhabits marshes, streams and rivers; other species inhabit South America and Asia. The North American otter adult is about three to four feet long (including the tail) and weighs from 10 to 30 pounds; the sea otter is commonly four feet long and 45 pounds (female) or 60 pounds (male). Their fur is soft and valuable, and in the nineteenth century they were hunted extensively. The sea otter was hunted to near extinction by 1900, and is now protected. Fewer than 3,000 sea otters are believed to live along the central California coast. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. (Zo["o]l.) The larva of the ghost moth. It is very injurious to hop vines. [1913 Webster]

{Otter hound}, {Otter dog} (Zo["o]l.), a small breed of hounds, used in England for hunting otters; see {otterhound} .

{Otter sheep}. See {Ancon sheep}, under {Ancon}.

{Otter shell} (Zo["o]l.), very large bivalve mollusk ({Schizoth[ae]rus Nuttallii}) found on the northwest coast of America. It is excellent food, and is extensively used by the Indians.

{Sea otter}. (Zo["o]l.) See in the Vocabulary. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Sea otter — Sea ot ter (Zo[ o]l.) An aquatic carnivore ({Enhydris lutris} syn. {Enhydris marina}) found in the North Pacific Ocean. Its fur is highly valued, especially by the Chinese. It is allied to the common otter, but is larger, with feet more decidedly …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sea otter — n. a marine otter (Enhydra lutris) with valuable dark brown fur, found along the N Pacific coast …   English World dictionary

  • Sea otter — Taxobox name = Sea Otter status = EN trend = down status system = iucn2.3 image caption = A sea otter wraps itself in kelp in Morro Bay, California. image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata subphylum = Vertebrata classis = Mammalia …   Wikipedia

  • sea otter — a marine otter, Enhydra lutris, of the shores of the northern Pacific, with a very valuable fur: now greatly reduced in number and rare in many areas. [1655 65] * * * or great sea otter Rare, completely marine otter (Enhydra lutris) of the… …   Universalium

  • sea otter — jūrinė ūdra statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Enhydra lutris angl. sea otter vok. Kalan; Kamtschatkabiber; Meerotter; Seeotter rus. калан; камчатский бобр; морская выдра; морской бобр pranc. loutre de… …   Žinduolių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Sea Otter Cove — is a remote place near the north western end of Vancouver Island which has been part of Cape Scott Provincial Park since 1973.At the mouth of the cove is a group of small islands called the Helen Islands.It is north of Mount St. Patrick and San… …   Wikipedia

  • Sea Otter Inn — (Камбрия,США) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: 6656 Moonstone Beach Drive, К …   Каталог отелей

  • Sea Otter Classic — is a bicycling and outdoor life sports festival and trade show held in Monterey, California since 1990. The classic is named in honor of the Sea Otter. The Sea Otter Classic offers international racing, beginner through professional and includes… …   Wikipedia

  • Sea-otter's cabbage — Sea otter Sea ot ter (Zo[ o]l.) An aquatic carnivore ({Enhydris lutris} syn. {Enhydris marina}) found in the North Pacific Ocean. Its fur is highly valued, especially by the Chinese. It is allied to the common otter, but is larger, with feet more …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sea Otter Rocks — ( ru. Камни Бобровые, Kamni Bobrovyye ) are rocks of the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea.Some private individuals in the U.S. regard the rocks, along with Medny Island and Sea Lion Rock, as disputed territory based on the text of the Alaska… …   Wikipedia

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