Cape/ African Clawless Otter - The Basics

 Cape / African Clawless Otter

(Aonyx capensis)

As promised, the posts this week are brief overviews of EACH of the otter species, focusing on recent information about each species and a vid or 2...

We hope you enjoy! :)  

The Cape Clawless Otter's feet have almost no webbing, and claws only on the three middle toes of the hind feet. The front feet are very sensitive and hand-like; they are so dexterous with their front paws that they are left- or right-handed, just like people are. They use their hands to dig for prey in the mud or under rocks. They tend to form loose social and foraging groups with other otters.  Like other otters, they are incredibly playful and are excellent swimmers.



Status: Near Threatened and Decreasing.





The Cape (or African) Clawless Otter is native to large parts of southern Africa, as shown in red on  the map to the left.



Where the Cape (African) Clawless are absent in the Congo region, they are replaced in that habitat by the Congo Clawless Otter.











In this video, Ottie , an African Clawless otter rehabbing at the Back to the Wild Program, chases a butterfly in his free time! (thank you Audrey Delsink)

...and here is a group together near Table Mountain National Park, South Africa. (thank you TMNP!)

If you want more in-depth reading a few research articles you could explore on these otters includes:

>  Angelici, F.M., Politano, E., Bogudue, A.J. and Luiselli, L. 2005. Distribution and habitat of otters (Aonyx capensis and Lutra maculicollis) in southern Nigeria. Italian Journal of Zoology 72(3): 223-227.
>  Dixon, R.K., Smith, J. and Guill, S. 2003. Life on the Edge: Vulnerability and Adaptation of African Ecosystems to Global Climate Change. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 8: 93-113.
>  Differentiation of two South African otter species from spraint based on partial CytB primer cells