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Description
Just something for #DATutorialSeaOtters and/or #BetterTogetherTutorial (and maybe to earn myself a Sea Otter Badge). I normally don't do tutorials, unless it involves animals, so I just couldn't pass this one up.

These are indeed sea otters (Enhydra lutris) (though they are most likely the subspecies, the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)). Native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean, they maybe the smallest marine mammals, but sea otters are the heaviest members of the weasel (mustelid) family. What makes sea otters different from most marine mammals is their primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although they can walk on land, sea otters are also capable of living exclusively in the ocean. Their prey menu consists of marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Sea otters are famous for using rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells, which makes them one of the few mammal species to use tools. They are also a keystone species for controlling the sea urchin population (which could otherwise damage the kelp forest ecosystem by devouring the kelp to a stem if left out of control). Being social animals and in order to not drift away from each other, sea otters will hold hands (or, more like, paws) while they rest. Well, I tried my best to make them close together (too little, too late for that now), but at least they're together and the water around them is shaped like a heart.

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!

Description
Just something for #DATutorialSeaOtters and/or #BetterTogetherTutorial (and maybe to earn myself a Sea Otter Badge). I normally don't do tutorials, unless it involves animals, so I just couldn't pass this one up.

These are indeed sea otters (Enhydra lutris) (though they are most likely the subspecies, the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis)). Native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean, they maybe the smallest marine mammals, but sea otters are the heaviest members of the weasel (mustelid) family. What makes sea otters different from most marine mammals is their primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. Although they can walk on land, sea otters are also capable of living exclusively in the ocean. Their prey menu consists of marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. Sea otters are famous for using rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells, which makes them one of the few mammal species to use tools. They are also a keystone species for controlling the sea urchin population (which could otherwise damage the kelp forest ecosystem by devouring the kelp to a stem if left out of control). Being social animals and in order to not drift away from each other, sea otters will hold hands (or, more like, paws) while they rest. Well, I tried my best to make them close together (too little, too late for that now), but at least they're together and the water around them is shaped like a heart.

By the way, Happy Valentine's Day!