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Why do sea otters float on their backs while eating?
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otter
A sea otter (Enhydra lutris) eating a crab.
Sea otters float on their backs while eating as a practical adaptation to their marine lifestyle. By positioning themselves on their backs, they create a stable surface on their chests to hold and process their food.12
When consuming shellfish or crabs, sea otters typically use rocks as tools, smashing the prey against a stone balanced on their chest to break it open. This behavior allows them to efficiently access their food while remaining buoyant in the water.12