Third Grade
Worksheets
Sea Otters and Manatees
One of the cutest animals is the sea otter. They have bright eyes and a sense of fun. Manatees are not especially cute. They are large, slow animals that live in water. How can they be alike? The answer is easy. They are in danger of dying off.
Sea otters have very thick fur. They do not have blubber to help keep them warm. An otter takes good care of his coat. An otter's coat is very special. The hair close to the skin always stays dry.
Sea otters often sleep in the water. They float on their backs. They rest their chins on their chests. Sometimes they wrap kelp around their bodies so they will not float away.
Sea otters eat crabs, clams, sea urchins, sea snails, and abalone (ab-uh-LOH-nee). The otter must hold his breath while hunting. He can hold it from one to four minutes. Using his whiskers and paws, the otter finds food. Then he carries it to the surface to eat. To eat, the animal lays on its back. Its belly is the dinner table. When it is done, it rolls over. All the leftovers are washed away.
