sea otter

American  

noun

1. 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.

---

sea otter British  

noun

1. a large marine otter, Enhydra lutris, of N Pacific coasts, formerly hunted for its thick dark brown fur

---

Etymology

Origin of sea otter

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

“Outbreaks affect a wide range of birds and mammals, and these animals all share the near shore ecosystem,” she said, although it’s “especially tragic” when infections affect less common species in the southern sea otter.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

As sea otter populations slowly recover, wolves may be reviving a predator-prey relationship that existed in the past.

From Science Daily • Jan. 30, 2026

How sea otter pup was reunited with mom.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025

Morales noted that federal laws protect sea otters, and harassing or injuring a sea otter is illegal.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2024

Putting on his robe of sea otter fur, he entered his canoe and was paddled seaward to the Raven.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan