Why Is the Fur of Sea Otter Pups So Different?

Via Alaska SeaLife Center, which writes:

Look closely. Can you see the differences between the pup coat and adult coat of a northern sea otter?

Sea otters have a different coat for the first three months of their life, with a longer loft and longer guard hairs than an adult coat. The pup coat keeps pups afloat on top of the water, just like a lifejacket.

Our rehab team has described it like “a cotton ball in water.”

Here’s a close-up look at Un’a’s coat when she was first admitted at about 2 months old, and at her coat again 6 weeks later after she molted. Notice the reduction of the lighter colored guard hairs.