Sea otters lick and fluff their newborn for hours, causing their pup’s fur to retain enough air to act as a floatation device.
Sea otters have a layer of air-trapping fur that helps provide buoyancy. Their dense, waterproof fur consists of two layers—a longer outer layer that repels water and a shorter, insulating underlayer. This fur acts as a natural flotation device, allowing sea otters to effortlessly float on the water’s surface.