Every Tuesday, Mongabay brings you a new episode of Candid Animal Cam, our show featuring animals caught on camera traps around the world and hosted by Romi Castagnino, our writer and conservation scientist. Camera traps bring you closer to the secretive natural world and are an important conservation tool to study wildlife. This week we’re meeting one of the few mammals on the planet that use tools: the Southern sea otter. The Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Weighing up to 45 kg, they are the heaviest members of the weasel family, but one of the smallest marine mammals. The sea otter has many adaptations to its marine environment. To begin with, their nostrils and ears can close when they are underwater. Their hind feet are long, flat and webbed to provide the best ergonomics for swimming. And their front paws have pads on the palms that enable them to grip slippery prey. But that’s not all. Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom! Their thick coat is their primary form of insulation against cold water, unlike other marine mammals […]
Latest Articles
Marks & Spencer to Ditch ‘Best Before’ Dates on Most Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Takeaways: Marks and Spencer is removing their "best before" dates from over 300 fruit and vegetable products to cut down on food waste.
The...
Over 60 Million Years Ago, Penguins Abandoned Flight for Swimming. Here’s How.
Takeaways: It's been 60 million years since penguins abandoned flight for swimming, and researchers have finally discovered how.
After looking at penguin fossils and...
Paper Batteries Balance Energy Efficiency with Sustainability
Takeaways: Scientists have invented a biodegradable, single-use battery built with non-toxic paper and ink.
These batteries are built with biodegradable materials, including paper, zinc,...
Indigenous Shuar Community in Ecuador Wins Decades-Long Battle to Protect Land
Takeaways: After a decades-long battle, Ecuador's National System of Protected Areas now includes the 5 497 hectare ancestral Tiwi Nunka Forest.
These protections mean...
New Barbie Honors Jane Goodall and Champions Sustainability
Takeaways: Coinciding with World Chimpanzee Day, Barbie's new doll honours Dr Jane Goodall and her work with these animals.
Barbie has also introduced a...
How Citizen Science Helps NOAA Keep Tabs on Our Oceans
Takeaways: Volunteers contribute more than a million hours to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which runs citizen projects annually.
Projects range from tracking...