Sea Otters: Cuteness Overload(a)|海獭：超萌的啦！

Sea Otters: Cuteness Overload

by Brian Foden

Do you know some interesting facts about sea otters?

　　When most people think of sea otters, they just think of cute creatures, but they are neater than you think. _(1)_ This helps them keep warm in the cold temperatures of the northern Pacific Ocean. Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal, approximately one million strands per square inch, and it consists of long, waterproof guard hairs with short fur underneath. _(2)_

　　A remarkable aspect of sea otters' behavior is their use of rocks to pry open the shells of their prey. _(3)_ They also employ stones to dislodge abalones clinging to rocks so that they can eat them. This use of rocks makes sea otters one of only a few mammals to use tools. Sea otters also have intriguing habits related to sleeping. _(4)_ Another way they avoid floating away while resting is holding the paws of other otters in large groups. Furthermore, a truly interesting fact about sea otters is that they have been called global warming warriors because they eat sea urchins, which in turn feed on kelp. _(5)_ While sea otters may be extremely cute when they are swimming or lounging around, they are also very helpful to our oceans.

(A) In order to stay from drifting too far while asleep, the small marine animals wrap themselves in kelp.

(B) This combination keeps the cold ocean away from their skin, which is important because sea otters do not have blubber.

(C) Sea otters are mostly seen on the coasts of the northern and eastern Pacific Ocean.

(D) They do this by using both of their paws to pound shells against rocks that they support on their chests.

(E) Since kelp forests absorb carbon dioxide, a gas that increases global warming, sea otters are helping to protect the environment by eating urchins.

(F) This is because they spend a lot of time grooming every part of their bodies, so they are extremely clean.

 

海獭：超萌的啦！

你知道海獭的一些趣事吗？

　　大多数人想到海獭时，他们只会想到可爱的生物，不过牠们比你想象中还要整洁。这是因为牠们会花很多时间去梳理自己身体的每一个部份，所以牠们非常干净。这有助于牠们在北太平洋的寒冷气温中保持温暖。海獭是所有动物之中毛最浓密的，每平方英寸大约有一百万根，这包括了防水的长针毛（编按：针毛是用以保护下层细密绒毛的粗长外毛）与内层的短毛。这种绒毛的结合能将寒冷的海水和自己的皮肤区隔开来，这点相当重要，因为海獭的身上并没有脂肪层。

　　海獭的行为中有一项很了不起的特点，那就是牠们会用石头来撬开其猎物的壳。牠们会利用双掌将猎物的壳对着以胸膛作支撑的岩石敲击。牠们还会运用石头把紧黏在石头上的鲍鱼取下，如此牠们便可以大快朵颐了。这种使用岩石取食的方式让海獭成了哺乳动物中极少数会运用工具的动物之一。海獭也有和睡眠相关的有趣习惯。为了在睡觉时不会漂流到太远的地方，这些小型的海洋动物会用海藻把自己包覆起来。牠们还有另外一项可避免在休息时漂走的方法，那就是成群结队地握住其他海獭的手掌。此外，关于海獭，还有一项相当有趣的事情，那就是牠们被称作全球暖化的勇士，因为牠们会捕食海胆，而海胆又是吃海藻为生。由于海藻森林会吸取加速全球暖化的二氧化碳，因此海獭藉由食用海胆以协助保护环境。海獭不只在游泳或懒洋洋地闲荡时可能相当可爱，牠们对我们的海洋也非常有帮助。

答案： 1. F 2. B 3. D 4. A 5. E