Female sea otters in California use tools to break open hard-shelled prey, enabling them to consume larger prey and meet calorie demands.
A new study reveals that female sea otters off the coast of California use tools such as rocks, shells, and debris to break open hard-shelled prey, allowing them to consume larger prey, like crabs, clams, and mussels, and reduce dental injuries. This behavior is particularly beneficial for female otters, as tools help them overcome their smaller body size and weaker biting ability to meet calorie demands. The study, published in Science, followed 196 otters equipped with radio tags and found that females who used tools were able to consume prey that were up to 35% harder than males who used tools.
May 16, 2024
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