Are Sea Otters Colorblind? A Marine Biologist EXPLAINS!

#seaotter #seaotters #kpassionate
Marine mammals like sea otters, seals, and sea lions are specifically adapted for their underwater environments. But how is their vision different than ours? We take a deeper dive into what the world looks like to a sea otter.

All of the sea otters in this video were rescued as pups after becoming separated from their mothers. Each otter was deemed non-releasable by either the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada or the NOAA in the USA due to the fact that they lacked the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Joey the sea otter, for example, was rescued in 2020 off the coast of Vancouver Island after his cries were heard throughout the night. It was determined that he was only a day old and that his mother had tragically passed away. I was one of the lucky marine biologists who participated in his rescue and rehabilitation. Since he was so young at the time of rescue, biologists at the Department of Fisheries Canada determined that Joey lacked the skills to survive in the wild and thus deemed him non-releasable. He has thrived under human care and adapted well to his new otter family.

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CITED SOURCES

MUSIC FROM
Scott Buckley

ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Andrea Izzotti - stock. adobe

[vereddar]

KP, it took a while, but I'm now perfectly trained to hit the Like button the second I open one of your clips! And I'm happy to do it without even getting a clam!

[susana]

KP, I always learn so much from you! Not only are you an endless source of info on marine mammals, you’re a very good teacher, keeping it interesting while explaining complex concepts.

No wonder the other animals respond so well to your lessons! Meep!

[minii]

I really love these videos, I've always loved marine life so these are always so interesting!

Also fur seals look like they have extra large googly eyes and I just can't stop laugh crying. Sea otters, seals, walruses... they're all so flipping cute!

[youdj_app]

You are sooo fascinating KP, I am so glad to be your patreon!! :D. Fun to know that I have the same sight of a sea otter on land (-2.00), it is actually not that bad, but how do you know how clear they can see exactly? Merci beaucoup pour ta vidéo, you are really getting good at making them!! ps : the nose poke at 7:00 is hilarious :D

[kristinann]

Somebody asked during a Facebook Live with the Alaska SeaLife Center & their new little otter pup Poppy if sea otters like the color red because all of the toys she was playing with were red & the staff wears red too ❤️
By the way, Joey looks adorable with goggles and a snorkel 🤣

[sarahcarter-ali]

These adorable floofs get even more fascinating with every video! My son is colour blind so he was super interested in this video 😍😁

[endangeredmarmot]

This was really great, KP. Awesome explanation of the evolutionary drivers behind colour vision and marine mammal vision! If you're doing whiskers next, I hope the fur seals are featured - they have epic moustaches!

[janeeyre]

I always hope that people learning how beloved animals are "disabled, " from a human or anthrocentric perspective, will make people more accepting of disabled humans.

Our sweet water bois are red-green colorblind. Many humans are red-green colorblind or have other forms of colorblindness.

So how excellent to make the world universally accessible to them. Intentionally designing text and infographs to never convey information solely through color, for example. Teaching about colorblindness accessibility in ALL graphic design classes.

What a world it would be.

[spikeyshadoe]

Standing ovation! One of my favourite videos! You made a complex subject matter on visual of these sea mammals into something anyone can understand! The next time I dive I will remember and perhaps look through the eyes of our otters, fur seals and sea lions!

[kpmathis]

Otter questions/video ideas:
1) Why does it appear that their skin isn't attached (faces smoosh all around while grooming?) Is that just the fur or are they really that loose-skinned?
2) How do they handle salt? Most fish have organs for filtering, right? Seals? Others?
2b) When trainers run the water hose to clean up & play with the otters, is that fresh water? Can/do they drink hose water?
3) We've heard how vocal Joey is, but what about the others? Can you distinguish their "voices?"
4) Wild otters & sea birds/crows? The captive ones seem shocked by these creatures intruding for their food & they don't seem to put up a fight (or have I missed events?). Even the Quatse + moth was more gentle than I expected.
4b) Speaking of gentle, Kunik isn't always easy on/with the others, but how are their interactions with people? Is aggression trained out & how?
5) They are remarkably dexterous with their paws. How? Still pictures make it look rigid/flat. But there has to be complexity there to do the bashing on rocks/walls/etc.
6) What is the hardest thing to train them to do? Easiest? Why? How does that vary between individuals?
7) How have they responded to people returning & watching them? Any "bashful"? Do they seem to notice young vs adult humans? Other preferences?



Sorry, question blast. Hope there is a useful idea for a topic in there somewhere. I do not expect direct answers, just feeding the vid list if I may be so bold.

[ac]

KP you are a world of information. Now I know why water is blue. Oh yea, I love all the otters, especially Joey.

[lizzieloum]

Thanks KP for posting. So interesting and we love ❤ our babies and of course meepie Jojo. I hope you will continue to share all your knowledge with us otter groupies/patreons🤣🤣

[nysemt]

How interesting this info is KP... Thank YOU. ❤ I actually had the experience as a teen, that I could see at times underwater when I was extremely nearsighted on land without contact lenses or glasses. Now I know why!! Absolutely fascinating!!.

[monicadriscoll]

As always, I have learned a lot from you KP. You explain things in such a way that makes it easier to understand!🥰💖

[jennuinelyjenn]

LOVED this KP! Like listening to a cool biology teacher, smart best-friend, and environmental champ rolled into one 👍🏾❤️. Can't wait for ur vids on the other otter senses 🦦🐾😁!!

[kimberlyhendricks]

Great video! I learn so much from you. Thanks KP😄

[TheOsakajo]

Super interesting KP ! Joey looks really good in goggles !!!

[RetsamX]

I love these deeper dive videos! They are always fascinating and it's great to see the passion in these videos. Just a small thing, I noticed the FPS of the camera are not really stable. Do you know what is up with that?

[holliehilton]

Hi KP! I became obsessed with sea otters when I took a trip to the Pacific NW after losing my Mom. I saw them at aquariums in Newport and Seattle and they healed my heart! I’m working on an educational project about them for youth, and was wondering how many otters can be kept together in one pool. I was also wondering how often they get health checks. Thanks for any info!! 🦦

[jamie]

Great video very interesting. How long does it take working with the otters before they'll let you boop them?