Southern Sea Otter | Enhydra lutris nereis

Close up of young sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) in very shallow water at near a beach @ Moss Landing in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Occasionally sea otters "haul out" and come to the water's edge or onto the beach. Otters are very awkward on land and find it difficult to get around. Sometimes they roll over instead of getting up to turn around. They also hunch up their back into a characteristic hump when walking.

Credit to: Blue Planet Archive / Jane Smith

Image dimensions: 5400x3600

URL for this image: https://pictures.blueplanetarchive.com/image/I00008fi3GnPU6TQ