These factors have contributed to significant population declines over the last century. The females usually have between two and five pups, and the male plays no parental role.Ĭlawless otters are preyed upon by pythons, crocodiles and fish eagles in the wild, but habitat loss and water pollution are far greater threats. Each individual occupies its range in a communal territory, marked by anal gland secretions, urine, and droppings (referred to as “spraints”). Unlike the spotted-necked otter (discussed below), their thick whiskers allow them to hunt in murky water.Īfrican clawless otters are primarily solitary but live within relatively tolerant family groups. Clawless otters are not picky eaters, and everything from fish and shellfish to amphibians and invertebrates are on the menu. They will also scavenge along beaches in search of crustaceans. Though most are found in freshwater rivers and dams, African clawless otters will also readily enter the shallow ocean surf to hunt. ![]() While not entirely clawless as their name suggests, their claws are significantly reduced, and their toes are only partially webbed, allowing for much greater dexterity.Īdaptable and resilient, African clawless otters can be found in various habitats, from dense forests to semi-arid savannas (provided there is a permanent body of water surrounded by sufficient vegetation). As the second-largest freshwater otter species in the world, African clawless otters can reach over 1.5m in length and weigh up to 36kg (though the average is between 12 and 21kg). The African clawless otter is Africa’s most well-known and is widely distributed throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa (though they are most common in Southern Africa). African clawless otter African clawless otter/Cape clawless otter ( Aonyx capensis) All the otters of Africa otters are freshwater dwelling, though most will happily venture into the sea. Those plying their trade in fresh water spend much of the time on land and use holts/couches (the official names for otter dens) underground or in dense vegetation. Survival on the open sea has also necessitated a more flexible social structure than most freshwater otter species. Sea otters are the only entirely marine species and, as a result, do not return to land or occupy burrows. The largest of the 13 otter species is the sea otter, which is also the heaviest member of the mustelid family and an exception to most otter “rules”. Like hyenas, otters are fast-paced and efficient hunters, but they are also opportunistic carnivores with mighty jaws capable of cracking open even the hardest crustacean shells. Though the initial similarities may seem somewhat obscure, this is a surprisingly apt description. The otters of Africa are sometimes referred to as “fisi maji” in Swahili, which translates as “water hyena”. Another characteristic held in common is that almost all mustelids possess anal glands which produce a pungent (and to the human nose, obscenely malodorous) secretion used in olfactory communication. Almost all mustelids share a similar morphological design, with long slender bodies, short legs, and thick fur. Other mustelids include weasels, badgers, wolverines and honey badgers. ![]() They belong to the mustelid family – the largest family within the order Carnivora and one of the oldest and most diverse. There are 13 recognised otter species, four of which are found in Africa. In Africa, this appeal is complemented by a sense of the mysterious – otter sightings are brief, infrequent and treasured by those fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of these extraordinary, amphibious mammals. Otters are intelligent and fascinating predators with an irresistible propensity for play. Like their cousins worldwide, the otters of Africa have lively eyes, expressive features and utterly adorable squeaks, which have gone a long way to securing literary and internet fame. ![]() Or maybe it is the coiled tension in their sinuous bodies, which melt, sleek and powerful, into the water. Perhaps, as Ted Hughes wrote, it is their duality: a creature equally at home on land or in the rivers and oceans of the world. There is something unaccountably beguiling about otters.
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