Why do sea otters hold hands while they sleep?
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Transcript
Have you ever seen sea otters holding hands while they sleep?
Sea otters sleep floating on their backs in the water. Waves can gently move them apart.
Sometimes two otters hold paws as they rest. This helps them stay close together.
An otter may also wrap in seaweed while it sleeps. The seaweed can help it stay in one spot.
So that's why sea otters may hold paws: it can help them stay close while they float and rest.
For grown-ups: the science
Sea otters may hold paws while resting so waves do not move them far apart.
Sea otters sometimes raft together, and paw-holding has been observed, especially between mothers and pups. It may help individuals stay together in moving water, though it is not something every sea otter does. Otters also use kelp as an anchor while resting.