Southern Sea Otter and Southern White Rhinoceros: Adaptations, Diet, Behaviours

Southern sea otter’s common name is the sea otter. Its scientific name is Enhydra lutrisnereis (Defenders of Wildlife, 2018) 

The common name for the southern white rhinoceros is the southern square-lipped rhinoceros. Its scientific name is Ceratotheriumsimumsimum (WWF Global, 2018). 

Southern sea otter : 

One of the adaptations of the sea otter is the use of their feet to reduce or increase the rate of loss of heat depending on the water temperatures. When the sea water is too cold, the seat otter reduce the rate of loss of heat by floating on their backs with the feet out of the water. When they are trying to lose heat, their feet are extended under the water. The extension of their feet increases the surface area thereby facilitating maximum loss of heat (Law, Baliga, Tinker & Mehta, 2017). 

Secondly, the sea otters increase of decrease their buoyancy based on the temperatures of the sea water. They exert controls on their lung capacity that increases buoyancy when the water is cold. They then reduce the lung volume and decrease buoyancy when the waters are warm. 

The third adaptation is the shape of the feet and tail. The tail of the sea otter is smaller than that of other otters to minimize the surface area. The feet are normally webbed to facilitate faster speeds when they are in water. The tail is also plump at its base and then flattens towards the tip. It facilitates easier and faster swimming when the seat otter is in water. 

Fourthly, the southern sea otter have a sharp eyesight to facilitate clear vision both in and out of water. The sharp eye sight is vital in facilitating easier site of enemies both in land and water. 

Finally, the sea otter have dense coats of fur that facilitates their bodies to remain warm. 

Southern white rhinoceros : 

One of the adaptations is that they are active in the early morning, late afternoons and also in the evening. The adaptation facilitates the cooling of the body during the middle of the day when the sun is likely to be hot. It also promotes their wallowing in the mud to keep their bodies cool. 

Secondly, they communicate through various cues like grunts, squeals when in distressand deep bellowing when they feel threatened (Linn, Boeer&Scheumann, 2018). Also, acts such as whipping its horn on the ground is an indication that the animal is feeling threatened. 

Thirdly, they have special relationships with birds such as the egret, bee-eater and the oxpecker. The birds acting as sentinels feed on various parasites that are found on the backs and other parts of the animal like ears. 

Fourthly, they are faster and agile and can attain faster speeds within a short time. The ability enhances their self-defense as the speed is complemented by their bulky shape and maximize the impacts on an enemy. 

Lastly, they form communal dung heaps that facilitates olfactory determination of territories. Also the dominant males usually mark their territory using urine and excreta. The adaptation minimizes conflicts with others. 

The southern sea otter : 

In their natural environments, they eat snails, abalone, mussels and urchins. 

At the first trophic level, the animals like snails, urchins and mussels feed on primary producers like algae and planktons. It means the southern sea otters are at the third level as they are secondary consumers as they feed on the primary consumers. 

At the zoo or the domesticated environment, they are fed on fish and processed meat products. 

Southern white rhinoceros: 

In their natural environments, they feed on grass as they are herbivores. The first trophic level is the plants like the grass that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. 

The southern white rhinoceros is a primary consumer at the second trophic level of primary consumers. 

In the domesticated environment, they eat grass like hay. 

The southern sea otter: 

One of its behaviors is eating both during the day and night as it is diurnal. The ability limits the likelihood of hunger as most of the time can be spent looking for food. Secondly, they spend considerable time cleaning and blowing air into the fur. The behavior enhances their comfort and ability to survive both on land and water. Thirdly, they roll frequently in the water when they are eating. The behavior facilitates the elimination of food cramps from their fur. 

Southern white rhinoceros: 

One of its behaviors is its preference for wallowing in the mud holes. The behavior facilitates thermo regulation as it promotes cooling of the skin and comfort, especially during the hot weather. Secondly, it assumes a head-low postureand its ears rolled backwards to communicate anger and feelings of threats in its environment. The behavior promotes the scaring of enemies such as other wild animals like lions or humans. 

Thirdly, most of the females live in herds of between ten and twenty unlike males that mostly adopt solitary lifestyles. The behavior by the females facilitates easier defense against an enemy. 

The southern sea otters: 

They are ready to reproduce when they are between two and three years old. Also, the females are usually ready for mating after they have had litter. The ability contributes to the high number of southern sea otters as the females can reproduce continuously, especially if they lose their young ones to predators. 

Secondly, the females are good in caregiving and attending to the needs of the young ones and ensuring they have adequate food in their dens. The behavior is necessary as the young ones are born blind and develop ability to see when they are about a month old. The caregiving capabilities of the females increases the survival rates of the newborns. 

Thirdly, the males join the females during the mating season and do not live separately. Their ability to stay together during the mating season increases the rates of conception. 

Southern white rhinoceros: 

First, the breeding pair stays together between five and twenty days. The ability increases the likelihood of conception. Secondly, the female is very protective of its calf and usually fights aggressively to wade off any perceived enemies. The ability limits the likelihood of attacks of the calf by enemies such as lions in the wild thereby increasing the rates of survival of the newborns to maturity. 

Thirdly, the matured male adults have no natural predators due to their huge physique. Also, the hard skin and presence of the mother also makes the likelihood of attacks on young rhinoceros rare. Also, due to the extensive weaning period where the calf can continue suckling beyond twelve months means the young one and the mother are mostly in proximity. The extended weaning period further limits the likelihood of attacks on the calf and increases the survival rates of the young ones. An increased survival rate means the reproductive cycle is likely to be maintained as the population of the species is likely to be maintained due to low likelihood of threats in the animal’s habitat.