Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) veterinarian Mike Murray performing surgery on captured otter to remove time depth recorder as part of long term study, Big Sur Coastline, California, USA September...

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) mother calling pup, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris) trying to keep paws dry for thermoregulation by holding above water surface, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) mother holding onto pup at sea surface, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) researcher Tim Tinker and veterinarian Dr. Mike Murray handling anesthetized otter after taking blood samples and tagging flippers, Big Sur Coastline, California, U...

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) veterinarian D. Mike Murray examining teeth of captured otter as part of long-term study, Big Sur Coastline, California, USA September 2010

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris) researcher Tim Tinker handing diver net for capturing sea otters for flipper tagging, blood sampling, and implantation of time depth recorder, Big Sur Coastline, Ca...

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother holding a 3-week pup, Monterey Bay, California, USA, December

Kevin Schafer / Marine otter / Chungungo (Lontra felina) two otters entering the sea, Isla Chiloe, Southern Chile, Endangered species, March

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) on water, feeding on clam, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother with 2-3 month baby on water, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) floating on water, yawning, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) in water, feeding on clam, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother swimming on water, carrying 2-3 week pup, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) mother swimming on water, carrying 2-3 week pup, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Raft of Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) on water at Moss Landing Harbour, Moss Landing, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Raft of Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris) on water at Moss Landing Harbour, Moss Landing, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) female hauled out with Harbour seals (possibly to hide from breeding males) Monterey Bay, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) swimming on back, carrying dead Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis), Monterey, CA, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) resting on sea surface, grooming, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) female resting on water, holding her sleeping 2-3 week pup, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) resting on sea surface, yawning, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) returning to sea from shore, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) coming out of sea onto shore, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) hauled out on shore, Monterey, California, USA

Kevin Schafer / Marine Otter (Lontra felina) with crab, Chiloe Island, southern Chile

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter {Enhydra lutris} floating on back with feet in the air, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter {Enhydra lutris} feeding on crab while floating on back, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter {Enhydra lutris} feeding on molluscs while floating on back, Monterey, California, USA

Suzi Eszterhas / Southern Sea Otter {Enhydra lutris} grooming in water, Monterey, California, USA

Richard Du Toit / African clawless otter {Aonyx capensis} swimming in sea, Robberg NR, South Africa