On the surface of the water, several sea otters rest side by side. The group looks like a raft, an image that gave the English term “raft”. Some keep in touch by holding their paws, a gesture that is particularly visible in aquarium images.
The Vancouver Aquarium describes this behavior among the social habits of sea otters. An activity that spontaneously evokes tenderness here participates in the life of a floating group. The sea moves around them; keeping contacts helps the animals stay together.
Not all otters, however, pass every sleep hand in hand, and river otters should not be confused with sea otters. Observation doesn’t have to become a universal rule to be touching. For a few moments, the raft is neither wood nor a boat: they are simply animals that stay close.
What we know
Possible behaviour of sea otters in groups; no obligation during any sleep or description of all species of otters.
To go to the source
References consulted on September 21, 2026. Linked pages may be in another language.
Signaler une erreur ou apporter une précision
