ASIAN SMALL-CLAWED OTTER
Aonyx cinerea
Mammal
Order Carnivora
Description
Head and body length is 18 - 24 inches, tail: 10 - 14 inches.
Weight: 2 11 lbs. Color: Brown, with paler underparts and sometimes white
markings on the face, throat, and chest. Claws of the adults are only minute
spikes that do not project beyond the ends of the of the digital pads.
Range
Northwestern India to southeastern China and Malay Peninsula,
southern India, Hainan, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Rhio Archipelago, Palawan.
Status
C.I.T.E.S. II.

Photo by Greg Neise |
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Ecology
- Habitat
- Occurs in rivers, creeks, estuaries, and coastal waters.
- Niche
- Carnivorous. The diet consists mainly of crabs, other crustaceans,
mollusks, and frogs; fish are relatively unimportant. They live in loose
family groups of up to 12 individuals and have avocabulary of up to 12
calls.
Life History
These otters may produce two litters annually. The gestation is 60 -
64 days, and litters contain 1 - 6 young, usually 1 or 2. The lifespan is
about 11 years in captivity.
Special Adaptations
- These otters have sensitive and dexterous forepaws which help locate
prey in mud or under stones.
- They have relatively large, broad cheek teeth, apparently for purposes
of crushing the shells of crabs and mollusks.
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