Taxonomy/Description
The Cape Clawless Otter's scientific name
is Aonyx capensis. The generic name,
aonyx,
which means "not-clawed", refers to this otter species' clawless
forelimbs. The specific name, capensis, means "belonging to
the Cape Province area of South Africa", which is its primary range,
though it lives throughout southern and central Africa. The Cape
Clawless
Otter is a member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, in the Mammalian
Order of Carnivora. Other mustelids include ferrets and mink.
Generally colored
brown with white underbellies, cape clawless otters lack claws on
all digits, with exception of the third and fourth digits of the
hindlimbs. Adults range in length from 4-5 in length, weighing
30-70lbs.
Habitat/Diet
This species range
extends across the African continent, from Senegal to Ethiopia and
south to South Africa. A variety of habitats are preferred, ranging
from semi-arid, open plains to rainforests. Their front paws are
completely clawless with minimal webbing, giving them an appearance
very similar to human hands. They use their incredibly dexterous
paws to grab prey such as mollusks and crustaceans and they may even
catch and eat an octopus from time to time.
photo M Noonan
Behavior/Reproduction
The cape clawless
otter forms loose social groups with territories that overlap those
of their relatives. Where these home ranges overlap, the otters
will forage together relatively peacefully, with skirmishes
generally breaking out only between males competing for mates. The
females may breed at any time during the year. They give birth to
two young after a gestation of 63 days, proceeding to raise their
young alone. These otters are nocturnal, but occasionally spotted
during the day.
Conservation
Like most other
otter species, the cape clawless otter was once hunted for its fur.
However, this species is mainly threatened by deforestation,
occurring throughout Africa. Habitat loss has resulted in the
decline of cape clawless otter sightings, which warrants this animal
as rare.
