Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora                                                          

Family: Mustelidae

Genus: Enhydra

Species: Enhydra lutris

Enhydra lutris is in the domain eukarya because it has membrane bound organelle and has a nucleus.  The species’ kingdom is animalia because it motile at some point in its life cycle, multicellular, heterotrophic, and also lacks cell walls.  The sea otter is in the phylum chordate because sometime during its life cycle it has a notochord, dorsal nervechord, pharyngeal slits, endostyle, and a post-anal tail.  Sea otters are also bilaterally symmetrical, like all other chordates.  The class is Mammalia because it is a warm blooded animal, which has a vertebrate.  Also the sea otter has sweat glands, has hair, and gives birth to it pup live and not from an egg like other members of this class.  Enhydra lutris is in the order carnivore because this species is a meat eating animal.  The sea otter also has teeth and claws that adapted to the habitat that it lives in along with the animals it eats.  Its family is Mustelidae because this family contains mostly small animals with short legs, short round ears, and thick fur.  The sea otter fits all of these characteristics and also is active year round like members in this family.  All sea otters belong to the genus Enhydra.  The sea otter is the only member of this genus.  This particular species is given the scientific name of Enhydra lutris.