The Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris), identified specifically as the Southern Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) in Zoo Tycoon, is a small marine mammal from the North Pacific. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
Weighing at up to 45kg (99lbs), the sea otter is the heaviest of the 13 species of otter and indeed the heaviest of all the mustelids. Unlike other mustelids, it is adapted for a fully-aquatic lifestyle and although it can walk on land, it is capable of spending its entire life out at sea. Unlike most other larger marine mammals, that rely on thick blubber for insulation, the sea otter has its incredibly thick coat of fur, the densest of any animal, to keep warm.
There are three subspecies of sea otter, all native to the Northern Pacific Ocean. The southern sea otter is native to Southern and Central California and can often be found around shores and kelp forests. It primarily eats marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, mollusks and crustaceans, functioning as a keystone species by controlling urchin populations which would otherwise destroy kelp. It is one of the few animals known to use tools, using rocks to dislodge prey and break open hard shells.
Zoo Tycoon[]
The Southern Sea Otter is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon and was added as part of the Marine Mania expansion pack. In Freeform mode, it is not adoptable until December 1, making it one of the last marine animals available for adoption without research.
Like all Marine Mania animals, the southern sea otter is an Aquatic animal, but it also requires a land section of gray stone. It can thus be exhibited in either a hybrid exhibit or a standard exhibit, without the need for a tank. Its favorite foliage is Beach Grass though it can also use Horsetail, Arctic Birch, Arctic Bush and Arctic Grass, the Horsetail being required to help maximize the southern sea otter's habitat suitability.
The southern sea otter has multiple ways to maximize its habitat suitability, Small Ocean Floor Rock clusters are required unless the player uses a combination of horsetail and Beach Grass for the foliage, or a tank instead of Salt Water terrain.
The southern sea otter is also a show animal and is able to perform a variety of tricks.
Tricks[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The Sea Otter is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the Marine Mania expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 2 and a half stars.
The sea otter is a Coastal animal. Like in Zoo Tycoon, it can be exhibited in a standard enclosure as well as a hybrid exhibit. As in the previous game, it is a Show animal with a variety of tricks.
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The sea otter, the smallest marine mammal, is native to the American and Asian shores of the North Pacific Ocean. It feeds mainly on mollusks and sea urchins, which it crushes with its large, blunt teeth. The otter also regularly uses rocks to open shellfish while swimming on its back. Swimming underwater, however, is no problem, as it can stay underwater for as long as six minutes. The brown inner fur of the otter is soft, dense, and woolly; overlaid by coarser and longer gray-tipped hairs of outer fur; and highly prized among humans. Once abundant, sea otters were hunted almost to extinction during the first half of the 20th century. Protective measures increased their numbers along the coasts of California and Alaska. |
Tricks[]
Gallery[]
Zoo Tycoon[]
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS[]
Trivia[]
- In Zoo Tycoon, the southern sea otter is the only animal to feed on the urchin food.
- Unlike most animals in the game, the southern sea otter can be seen picking up its food and eating it when it feeds.
- In Zoo Tycoon 2, adult sea otters are coded as small predators, while young are coded as medium prey. This will cause other small predators to fight the adult sea otters for space if there isn't enough, while completely ignoring young sea otters.
- The sea otter is the only Marine Mania animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 DS that reuses its model from the original PC game instead of using a model akin to its Zoo Tycoon appearance made specifically for the DS version.
Zoo Tycoon 2 DS animals | |
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Standard Animals | African Elephant ā¢ Black Panther ā¢ Black Rhinoceros ā¢ California Sea Lion ā¢ Cheetah ā¢ Chimpanzee ā¢ Dolphin ā¢ Dromedary Camel ā¢ Galapagos Giant Tortoise ā¢ Giant Sable Antelope ā¢ Gray Wolf ā¢ Greater Flamingo ā¢ Grizzly Bear ā¢ Komodo Dragon ā¢ Lion ā¢ Masai Giraffe ā¢ Moose ā¢ Nile Crocodile ā¢ Ostrich ā¢ Orangutan ā¢ Polar Bear ā¢ Pygmy Hippopotamus ā¢ Red Kangaroo ā¢ Spanish Lynx ā¢ Wolverine ā¢ Zebra |
Star Animals | American Beaver ā¢ Emperor Penguin ā¢ Giant Panda ā¢ Koala ā¢ Mountain Gorilla ā¢ Sea Otter |
Amazing Animals | Saber-toothed Tiger ā¢ Triceratops ā¢ Unicorn ā¢ Yeti |