southern sea otter, Enhydra lutris nereis, smashes a mussel against a rock to break it open, Elkhorn Slough, California, USA

---

California sea otter or southern sea otter, Enhydra lutris nereis ( threatened species ), smashes a mussel against a rock to break its shell; otters are among few animals known to use tools; Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing, California, United States ( Eastern Pacific )

---

Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing, California, USA
Photo credit: © Doug Perrine / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ..., america, breaking, california, carnivora, doug, eating, enhyrdra, feeding, landing, lutris, mammal, marine, moss, mustelidae, nereis, north, otter, otter-15, perrine, rock, sea, smashing, southern, species, states, threatened, tool, united, usa, water, wildlife