The Small-clawed Asian Otters at Sydney Zoo love nothing more than lying on their backs, juggling smooth, slippery, wet pebbles from hand to hand via their mouth and chest.
Researchers seem to agree that Otters perform these rock and pebble juggles more when they are hungry – are they perhaps honing their dexterity for mealtime tasks like manipulating slippery fish, or picking crab meat from the shell? The ultimate meaning of this behaviour remains a mystery – but is nevertheless fun to watch!
First – choose a pebble from your stack of favourites: