Asian Small-clawed Otter

Scientific Classification

Common Name: Asian small-clawed otter, Asian short-clawed otter, Oriental small-clawed otter, small-clawed otter
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Genus Species: Aonyx
Subgenus Species: Amblonyx cinerea

Fast Facts

Description: Asian small-clawed otters are one of 13 species of otters in the carnivore family Mustelidae. Other members of this family include weasels, skunks, and ferrets. Otters in this genus are characterized by only partial webbing between their toes, and small, blunt, peg-like claws. The claws do not extend beyond the toe pads. Other otters have fully webbed feet and strong, well-developed claws. Asian small-clawed otters have slender, serpentine bodies with dense, luxurious fur.
These otters are countershaded and have dark brown fur above and lighter fur below. They may also have gray or white markings along their face and throat.
Size: The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest of all otters, measuring 65 to 94 cm (26 to 37 in.). The tail may reach 25.4 to 35.6 cm (10 to 14 in.) in length.
Weight: Approximately 1 to 5 kg (2.2 to 11 lbs.)
Diet: Feed primarily on crustaceans and mollusk; will also eat fish, insects, frogs and even small reptiles. They forage with their sensitive paws, which enable them to locate prey in silt-bottomed riverbeds.
Gestation: 68 to 82 days; give birth to 1 to 6 pups
Estral Period: 28 day estrus cycle with 3 days of estrus. Females can typically produce two litters each year.
Sexual Maturity: They reach sexually maturity at 12 to 18 months but most successful breeding occurs between 1.5 and 3 years old.
Life Span: On average, 10 to 15 years with some individuals living more than 20 years in zoological parks. Lifespan in the wild is still unknown.
Range: Southeast Asia from southern India to southeastern China, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Habitat: They prefer freshwater and brackish habitats such as rivers, creeks, marshes, mangrove estuaries and coastal waters. They may also spend a great deal of time out of the water, traveling considerable distances between waterways. They share their habitat with three other species of otter: Eurasian, smooth coated and hairy nosed.
Population: Global: Unknown; but declining and populations are severely fragmented.
Status: IUCN: Vulnerable
CITES: Appendix II since 1977
USFWS: Not listed

Fun Facts

An individual otter maintains a territory. Otters mark their territories with scent, and fervently patrol and defend their territories.
Asian otters are considered semi-social. Scent is the most important communication for all freshwater otters. Each otter's scent is as individual as a fingerprint. Asian otters also communicate vocally, with a repertoire of at least 12 calls.
Asian small-clawed otters spend the majority of their time on land.
These otters can close their small ears and nostrils while underneath the water.
They live in family groups of 15 to 20 individuals but each otter tends to hunt independently.
For more information about otters, explore our Otters Infobook.

Ecology and Conservation

All otters have been exploited for their thick, velvety fur. All species of otters are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a worldwide treaty developed in 1973 to regulate trade in wildlife species.

Bibliography

Byrum, J. Otters. SeaWorld Education Department Publication. San Diego. SeaWorld, Inc. 1997.

Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991.

Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 1990.

Smithsonian: Mammal Species of the World Website http://nmnhgoph.si.edu/msw/

University of Michigan - Animal Diversity Web http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu

Smithsonian Institute - National Zoo Education Website https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/asian-small-clawed-otter
Downloaded on 20 September 2018.

Wright, L., de Silva, P., Chan, B. & Reza Lubis, I. 2015. Aonyx cinereus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T44166A21939068. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T44166A21939068.en. Downloaded on 20 September 2018.