As the name suggests, these Otters donât have claws. The African Clawless Otter is the second biggest otter in the freshwater otter family. Apr 27, 2016 - African clawless otter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The African Clawless Otter hunts day and night and, while it does favour an aquatic environment, it eats prey from both the land and water. An African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is also called by the name "Groot otter" and has partly webbed and clawless feet (hence its name), and it is in fact the second biggest freshwater kind of otter. It is very silky in appearance as well as to the touch. No need to register, buy now! The other species, the spotted-necked otter The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter. The African clawless otter has been found to travel through and sometimes inhabit polluted systems in parts of their range, but the long-term costs of doing so are yet to be determined. Males are slightly heavier and longer than females. They weigh between 10 and 22 kg. A local free diver captured a rare incident earlier this month of a Cape clawless otter feeding on a puff adder and dark shysharks. African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) images and facts - this gallery provides an up-close look through stock photos of this unique and special animal, the African clawless otter. This species gets its name from the webless front feet. Photo. It has crepuscular habits and can hunt in very murky water thanks to its long and sensitive whiskers. Key Information: This is the smallest of the worldâs otters, about 0.9 m long, weighing around 5 kg. African clawless otter is a mammal that belongs to the weasel family. Quote. The major threat is pythons that can lay in lure near the water and human activities. Aonyx cinerea: information (1) Aonyx cinerea: pictures (14) To cite this page: Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. They range through most of sub-Saharan Africa, except for the Congo River basin and arid areas. They are weaned at 45 - 60 days and are fully mature at a year old. Unfollow . African Clawless Otters live in a variety of habitats in Africa. Otters are semi-aquatic, which means they live both in and out of water. They have also been seen eating snakes, birds, frogs and insects. Ask. They range through most of sub-Saharan Africa, except for the Congo River basin and arid areas. They are also slightly larger than its close relative, the Congo clawless Otter.Their diet consists mainly crabs, frogs and fish. Although African clawless otters will occupy habitat near saltwater, they need access to freshwater and live primarily along tributaries of major rivers or in seasonal rivers in arid and semiarid areas. They are the least aquatic of all otters. Audio. African clawless otters feed mostly on fish, crabs, fresh water mussels and other protein snacks they can find in or close to their watery homes. 2020. Interesting Facts About Cape Clawless Otters. Also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, the African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) is the second-largest freshwater species of otter.They can be found near permanent bodies of water in savannahs and lowland forests. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Steve was lucky enough to encounter one feeding a few evenings ago⦠âAfter a day at sea, I was changing out of my wetsuit when other divers mentioned seeing an otter on the rocks. The Cape clawless otter, also known as the African clawless otter, is one of two otter species to occur in South Africa. Cape clawless otters (also known as African clawless otters, or groot otters) are most often elusive, shy and secretive â but every now and then they allow you a glimpse into their going-abouts! The food habits of co-existing otter species were studied in a catchment in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg. They are well known for the luxurious hair that they have. It is widely-distributed across South Africa and the second largest freshwater otter species in the world, reaching between 113 and 163 cm in length and weighing between 12 and 21 kg. OUR DATA: We use the most recent data from these primary sources: AnAge, UMICH, Max Planck, PanTHERIA, Arkive, UKC, AKC. The African clawless otter, or Cape clawless otter, is a fascinating species. Congo clawless otters are characterized by only partial webbing (between the toes of their back feet and no webbing on their front feet), and small, blunt, peg-like claws. And, just like their name suggests, they do not have claws. L. maculicollis showed greater trophic plasticity in different habitats and exhibited a wider trophic niche than A. capensis. Aonyx capensis (African Clawless Otter) is a species of mammals in the family Mustelidae.It is listed as near threatened by IUCN and in CITES Appendix II.It is associated with freshwater habitat.African Clawless Otter is found in the Afrotropics.It is a solitary omnivore.Individuals are known to live for 132 months and can grow to 19322.22 g. African clawless otter (Cape clawless otter)** Aonyx capensis** (SCHINZ, 1821) Photo by: F. Spangenberg : Additional images here: www.biolib.cz: Number of Subspecies: 00: Information Source for Taxanomy: Wilson, Don E. / Mittermeier, Russell A. HANDBOOK OF THE MAMMALS OF THE WORLD; Vol. roadkillandcrows . Other otters have fully webbed feet and strong, well-developed claws. Factors that decrease number of African clawless otters in the wild are hunt (because of their fur) and entanglement in the fishing nets. The African clawless otter lives throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa except the Congo Basin, which is dominated by the Congo clawless otter. Their front feet are handlike and partially webbed. The African clawless otter is a large freshwater otter found throughout much of Sub-Saharan Africa. African Clawless Otter The African Clawless Otter is the second largest of all freshwater species. Aonyx capensis: information (1) Aonyx capensis: pictures (2) Species Aonyx cinerea Oriental small-clawed otter. All posts. Introduction: African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) are extremely elusive animals because of their survival instinct to swim away from riverbanks at the slightest disturbance. The Brazilian, or Giant, otter, is the largest freshwater otter and the sea otter is the largest otter of all (fresh and salt water). The Cape clawless otter, also known as the African clawless otter, is one of two otter species to occur in South Africa. African clawless otters donât have many predators since they are quick in the water and have burrows on land making them hard to catch. Socialisation. Threats, Awareness and Distribution Pattern of the Threatened African Clawless Otters (Aonyx capensis) in Mtera Dam, Tanzania. Like other otters, African Clawless Otters like to hang out in areas that will provide them with plenty of water, like the savannah. Species Aonyx capensis African clawless otter. African clawless otters are the largest Old World otter species and 3rd largest species of otter overall. Otters groom and dry themselves by rolling in the grass and rubbing against rocks and the soil, habits that attract crocodiles. The African clawless otter has large molars adapted to crushing crabs and lobsters, but will also prey on frogs, fish and insects. It is widely-distributed across South Africa and the second largest freshwater otter species in the world, reaching between 113 and 163 cm in length and weighing between 12 and 21 kg. Find the perfect african clawless otter stock photo. The absence of claws and the reduced webbing on its paws gives this species incredible dexterity. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. It can be found in the sub-Saharan Africa (except in the Congo). Chat. African clawless otter inhabits lakes, streams and rivers in savannas and lowland forests. Link. Common menu items include crabs, fish, rodents, amphibians and even birds. African clawless otter definition is - a large African otter (Aonyx capensis) with the claws absent from most toes âcalled also Cape clawless otter. According to the report made by IUCN recently on the Red List species, out of the 13 species of otter worldwide, 12 are declining in number (IUCN, 2015). Breeding After a gestation period of approximately 63 days, African Clawless Otters give birth to a litter of 2 - 3 young. African clawless otter. In otter: Conservation and classification. African clawless otter < > Most recent. Although they are, generally, solitary animals, the African Clawless Otters can sometimes be found in clans of between four and six individuals. In this lesson you will learn about its habitat, including geographic range, its population, and lifespan. Grid View List View. Their tail measures 465 mm to 515 mm long and is typically stout and tapered. The otters will forage in man-made fisheries and are therefore hunted and at risk of becoming entailed in their nets. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Other articles where African clawless otter is discussed: otter: Freshwater otters: African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) and Congo clawless otters (A. congicus or A. capensis congicus) occupy murky waterways and thus rely more on manual dexterity than on vision to obtain food (mostly crabs) from under rocks. Their head and body length ranges from 762 mm to 880 mm. Video. Filter by post type. African Clawless Otter. Text. Follow. The other species, the spotted-necked otter Food preferences differed : the Cape clawless otter Aonyx capensis largely ate crabs whereas the spotted-necked otter Lutra maculicollis was primarily piscivorous. Discover How Long African clawless otter Lives. by Ishani Chetty 25-06-2020 11:18 Most popular Most recent. These otters are extremely dextrous, using their forepaws to feel for molluscs and crustaceans in rocks, vegetation and mud. 1 - Carnivores, 2009 : Head-Torso-Length: 73 - 88 cm: Tail length: 46,5 - 51,5 cm: Weight: 10 - ⦠Size Head & body length: 600 to 1,000 mm (24 to 39 in.) The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter.African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. Raven, raccoon, African clawless otter, Chinese water deer, Persian cat, Nile crocodile. Clawless otters have slender, serpentine bodies with dense, luxurious fur and long tails. Diet African Clawless Otters mainly feed on fish, frogs, crabs and worms. 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