Definition

Noun: * Sea otter: A large marine mammal (Enhydra lutris) native to the northern Pacific Ocean. It is known for its exceptionally dense, dark brown fur, its use of tools, and its important role in maintaining kelp forest ecosystems.

Usage

• The term "Enhydra lutris" is the scientific (Latin) name for the species commonly known as the sea otter. It is used in formal, academic, and zoological contexts to specify this particular species of otter.
• It functions as a singular noun. The plural form is "Enhydra lutris" (as species names are typically treated as invariable in scientific writing) or, in less formal scientific contexts, "enhydra lutrises."

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The study focused on the foraging behavior of Enhydra lutris along the Alaskan coast.
  • Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of Enhydra lutris in some regions.
• Descriptive Context:
  • Unlike other otters, Enhydra lutris rarely comes ashore, spending almost its entire life in the ocean.
  • The luxurious fur of Enhydra lutris nearly led to its extinction in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic classification, "Enhydra" is the genus and "lutris" is the specific epithet. When written, the genus name is capitalized and the entire binomial is italicized.
• It can be used in ecological discussions to highlight the species' role as a keystone predator, controlling sea urchin populations to protect kelp forests.

Variants and Related Words

• Sea otter (n): The common English name for .
• Marine otter (n): A general term that can refer to , though it is also the common name for a different species, , found along South American coasts.

Synonyms

• Sea otter

Related Phrases / Terms

• Keystone species: A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend. is often cited as a classic example.
• Tool use: is one of the few mammal species known to use tools, such as rocks to break open shellfish.

Noun

1. large marine otter of northern Pacific coasts having very thick dark brown fur