Oriental small-clawed Otter

Distribution:Asia

Habitat:Aquatic

Height:Approx. 50cm

Weight:5kg

Diet:CarnivorousMostly fish.

Common Name: Oriental small-clawed Otter

Scientific Name: Amblonyx cinereus

NEAR THREATENED

Oriental small-clawed Otters have velvety brown hair that hastwo layers. The bottom layer is called the ‘under fur’ and is whatkeeps the otter warm. The top layer is called the ‘guard hair’,which gives the otter it’s waterproofing. Their fur is all brownapart from a cream bib underneath their chin.

To help them move around in the water their feet are webbeduntil the last joint after which they have short claws.

These otters are found through northern India, Taiwan anddown into Indonesia and Java where they inhabit are foundmostly along coastal rivers and in shallow bays where it huntsfor its food.

Otters are all carnivores (they eat meat). This Otters diet ismade up of crustaceans, molluscs and small fish, such as catfish.

Otters live in extended families dominated by the females. Therewill be mum and dad and then brothers and sisters of differentages. Normally after a gestation period (pregnancy) of about 2months the female gives birth to about 4 ‘pups’. These pups staywith their mother and father for about 2 years when they reachsexual maturity. As the dominant female is the only one to breedsome juveniles move away to set up their own families. Somejust stay to help with the childcare and babysitting. They all hunt,eat and sleep together.