If you’ve ever seen two otters sleeping together, you may have noticed that they are often holding hands. This cute behavior is actually something that many otters in captivity do when they sleep. But why do they do it? There are a few different reasons why scientists believe that otters sleep holding hands.
Why Do Otters Sleep Holding Hands?
When it comes to otters, not all are the same. There’s a difference between a sea otter and a river otter. For example, river otters sleep in dens, while sea otters spend nearly all of their time in the water — including sleep time.
So when we refer to otters that hold hands while they sleep, we’re only referring to sea otters, as river otters have never been observed holding hands while they slept. Scientists still don’t fully understand exactly why sea otters sleep holding hands.
Some have hypothesized that this behavior helps to keep the otters safe, protecting them from hungry predators in the middle of the night. Others believe that sleeping in close contact with other otters promotes feelings of security and helps to strengthen the bonds between group members.
Still others suggest that this unusual sleeping position may be simply a matter of convenience, since it allows for closer physical contact without interfering too much with an otherwise fairly solitary animal’s natural preferences for alone time. Who knows? Maybe they just hold hands to prevent one another from drifting away during the night.
Whatever the reason, it is clear that this behavior serves an important purpose for these intriguing animals, and we can only hope to learn more about their reasons as research continues.
It Prevents Them From Drifting Apart
When it comes to otters, there are many things that set them apart from other animals. Not only are they strikingly beautiful and playful creatures, but they also have some interesting behaviors that make them truly unique.
Perhaps one of the most curious of these behaviors is the fact that otters often sleep holding hands with their mates or colony members. Many experts believe that this behavior helps keep the otters from drifting apart during the night, as well as providing additional warmth and comfort.
In addition, some researchers have argued that this sleeping arrangement affords otters a heightened sense of safety, given that they are less likely to be attacked during the night if huddled together in pairs. Sea otters are rarely attacked, though, and have few (if any) predators to worry about. Whatever the reasons behind their behavior may be, it is clear that otters hold hands out of some sense of practicality.
It Provides a Sense of Security
When it comes to sleep, otters are an anomaly among the animal kingdom. Many researchers believe that otters like to sleep holding hands because it keeps them secure during their extended periods of slumber.
As anyone who has spent time with otters can attest, they are fiercely protective of their family and friends, sometimes needing that reassurance of touch as they sleep. Of course, there may also be an evolutionary component to their sleeping habits. When swirling currents pose a threat, having a buddy nearby provides extra stability and support.
It Gives Sea Otters in Captivity a Sense of Comfort
Despite what you read on the Internet, there is actually very little research that addresses this question. It wasn’t until a video taken at the Vancouver Aquarium went viral that people started to wonder why otters sleep holding hands.
The simple answer is that they may not actually hold hands at all while in the wild. You can’t expect animals in captivity to behave the same way they would in the wild, and vice versa. Every day, animals are trained while in captivity, and holding hands with humans is likely something that they’ve become accustomed to.
This behavior was probably learned, not instinctual. It’s possible that otters are under large amounts of stress while in captivity, and the simple act of holding a hand (or paw) while resting may just be a way to cope, as they only hold hands with a mate or with another member of their family.
Do All Otters Hold Hands While Sleeping?
No, sea otters are the only type of otter to have been witnessed holding hands while sleeping. This idea seems to be backed up by observations of sea otters at parks and zoos, which have been seen holding hands as they snooze floating on the surface.
This behavior is believed to help these animals keep from drifting away while they sleep. Research into the behavior of river otters while sleeping is limited, as they sleep in dens. It’s unlikely that river otters hold hands while they sleep, as they sleep in dens and don’t have to worry about drifting while asleep.
Overall, whether or not all otters hold hands while sleeping remains an open question for scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Do Sea Otters Always Hold Hands with the Same Otter?
One of the things that sea otters are most famous for is the way they hold hands while they sleep. It’s an adorable sight, and it’s led to many people wondering if sea otters always hold hands with the same otter.
The answer is a little complicated. While sea otters will often form bonds with one or two other otters, they don’t usually spend their whole lives with just those otters. Instead, they’ll form temporary associations with other otters as their needs change.
For example, a mother with a young pup will want to stay close to her pup, so she’ll join forces with another mother who has a pup of her own. Once the pups are grown, the mothers will go their separate ways. So while sea otters don’t always hold hands with the same otter, they do form bonds with other otters throughout their lives.
Conclusion
So, why do otters sleep holding hands? There are a few possible explanations. It could be that they’re trying to stay close to their family and friends, or it could be that they’re trying to stay stable in the water. It’s also possible that this is a behavior that they’ve learned in captivity.