| Scientific name: | Aonyx cinerea |
|---|---|
| Other common names: | Oriental small-clawed otter, small-clawed otter |
| Body length: | 65cm (excluding the tail) |
| Body weight: | 5kg |
| Lifespan: | 16 years |
| Natural habitat: | Freshwater swamps, rivers, mangroves and tidal pools |
| Distribution: | Southeast Asia, e.g. China, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam |
| Main diet: | Feed mainly on crabs, snails and other mollusks, insects and small fish |
- IUCN 2008 Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix II
- Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 2
The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) is the smallest amongst the 13 otter species. Asian small-clawed otters are differentiated from other otters by their partially-webbed limbs and nimble fingers. Unlike most other otters, they use their forepaws to locate and capture prey instead of their mouths. They have an excellent sense of touch and coordination, and these allow them to probe below mud and under rocks in shallow waters to catch prey.
The small-clawed otter feeds mainly on crabs, snails and other molluscs, insects and small fish. Playful and quick, these otters even know how to “cook”! They pile clams on the shore, letting the sun naturally heat the clams open to eat the meat inside.
- In order to adapt to the aquatic habitat, Asian small-clawed otters are equipped with two layers of hair: the first layer acts as a water-repellent, and the tightly packed under fur keeps their bodies warm.
- Asian small-clawed otters can be trained to help humans! In Malaysia, these clever and skilful little otters are trained to drive schools of fish into fishermen’s nets!
