| {{course.flashcardSetCount}} To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. This species is named for its webless front feet. In the UK IOSF is the only charity solely dedicated to the conservation, protection and care of otters based on years of scientific research in the UK and around the world. 's' : ''}}. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. courses that prepare you to earn The fact that so many fish these areas means that the food supply can be significantly reduced for them as well. (Nel and Somers, 2007) Communication and Perception. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. They tend to like water that is surrounding by areas of foliage. Habitat Type - Mangroves. Sometimes the otter builds these by digging up to nine feet underground, below the water level. This species of Otter is Least Concern in Conservation status, but they are hunted by humans and their habitat is destroyed. They rely on them both in the water and on land. At that time the males will leave their mother to join the male raft in the area. They are well known for the luxurious hair that they have. In some parts of Africa they are protected but it isn’t a widespread effort like it needs to be. Housing for an Asian small-clawed otter is not for everyone. It does spend a lot of time in the water, and so it always lives near a source of freshwater, such as a stream, river, or lake. They spend a great deal of their time laying around in the sun or even in t… African clawless otter. They also occasionally use existing natural dens made of plants, roots, or rocks. The scientific name for this species is Aonyx capensis, and it is also called the Cape clawless otter. While it can get around on land, it is slow and often clumsy in the process. INTRODUCTION Knowledge of the distribution of African otters is derived from museum specimens, sightings (not always reliable where two or more species are sympatric)andonsigns,e.g.distinctivetracksand spraints (faeces), or from diaries and expedition Their diet generally consists of a variety of small items including frogs, worms, fish, and crabs. You've just met an American mink who has escaped from a local mink far… The dens are typically close to freshwater or not far from a shore. Discover How Long African clawless otter Lives. They also spend a great deal of time in the water in order to stay cool. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. need to accomplish your personalized educational goals. Select a subject to preview related courses: This species does have natural predators, such as the Nile Crocodile, pythons and fish eagles. Did you know… We have over 220 college Asian Small-Clawed Otter: Habitat, Breeding & Adaptations, Over 83,000 lessons in all major subjects, , you're guaranteed to find what you need. A good portion of African clawless otter’s hunting is done under the water, particularly shallow water. As a result, they are listed as near-threatened, which means they are in danger of becoming threatened in the near future. They are weaned at 45 - 60 days and are fully mature at a year old. Their diet in the wild is crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. They will use their front feet to … Services. After I review To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. They thrive both in the warm water areas and where the temperatures are very low. {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}}, Eurasian Otter: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Facts, Hairy-Nosed Otter: Habitat, Breeding & Population, Spotted-Necked Otter: Habitat, Diet, Lifespan & Facts, Smooth-Coated Otter: Habitat, Adaptations & Facts, North American River Otter: Habitat, Diet, Predators & Facts, Southern River Otter: Habitat, Population & Adaptations, European Mink: Facts, Habitat, Adaptations & Population, What is a Mongoose? Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. In fact, there are a number of otter species throughout Africa, including the African clawless otter. They live in near permanent water bodies. The otter is brown with smooth and thick fur, but light-colored fur may be prominent on their face, neck, bel… Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. It does have small claws on its back feet, which are webbed and used to groom itself. They are very fast when it comes to catching these items and then consuming them. When you think about Africa, what animals first come to mind? They spend a great deal of their time laying around in the sun or even in the shade. In addition, they have dexterous hands which are used to search for food, grab prey and turn over rocks. These whiskers are highly sensitive to vibrations all around them. The are considered to be full grown at about one year of age. Cape clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, are widely distributed in South Africa, as elsewhere on the continent. They are nocturnal, lie quietly in bushy areas during the day. Chestnut in color, they are characterized by white facial markings that extend downward towards their throat and chest areas. These Otters are mature enough for mating around one year of age. Once a semester I use Study.com to prepare for all my finals. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. These areas are home to the prey favoured by the otter; namely crustaceans and fish. Adu… This is the smallest otter species being only about 11 lbs. It is very silky in appearance as well as to the touch. It is a similar status to 'vulnerable'. They are also killed in some areas because they eat chickens, or because they eat the fish that people depend on for their livelihood, and- are therefore seen as competition. How Long Does it Take to Learn a Language? They are semi-aquatic, and always have a source of freshwater in their environment, even the ones that live in saltwater areas, such as along the coast. Maybe you thought of zebras and giraffes, but what about otters? Baby otters for sale is 1 of 5 different otter species that is native to Asia. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? They use their whiskers as the primary source of finding food. The scientific name for this species is Aonyx capensis, and it is also called the Cape clawless otter. After a gestation period of approximately 63 days, African Clawless Otters give birth to a litter of 2 - 3 young. Their front feet are handlike and partially webbed. can otters be pets is 1 of 5 different otter species that is native to Asia. They are only nursed by their mother for about 60 days. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. This is one of the reasons why researchers feel it has been able to adapt to changes in the environment so well. Their large skulls are broad and flat, with relatively small orbits and short rostra. Most of their time is spent in a smaller core area ranging from 1.1 ha to 138.9 ha. The sexes are separate until they mating season occurs. During this period of time they will be taught to swim and to fish. Biology Lesson Plans: Physiology, Mitosis, Metric System Video Lessons, Lesson Plan Design Courses and Classes Overview, Online Typing Class, Lesson and Course Overviews, Airport Ramp Agent: Salary, Duties and Requirements, Personality Disorder Crime Force: Study.com Academy Sneak Peek. It lives only in the rivers and creeks of the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata river systems. Since they have predators on land including Nile crocodiles and eagles they tend to find it safer to be in the water. Decisions Revisited: Why Did You Choose a Public or Private College? Other than the water requirement, this otter can be found in a range of different habitat types. Molars are large and flat, used for crushing of prey. The aims of the present study were to validate fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations as a measure of stress using samples from a male African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis; n = 1) and to compare fGCM concentrations of otters occurring in a transformed and in 2 natural areas in South Africa. Many still hunt them in Africa for their pelts as well. OUR DATA: We use the most recent data from these primary sources: AnAge, UMICH, Max Planck, PanTHERIA, Arkive, UKC, AKC. They do live in large family groups. Get access risk-free for 30 days, Night time is when they tend to be the most active and when they search for food. Create an account to start this course today. 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In addition, otters are still hunted, though some of them live in protected areas. The African Clawless Otter is the second largest of all freshwater species. As you might expect, the African clawless otter lives in Africa. The Cape clawless otter is longer, very much heavier and lacks the neck spots of its cousin. The otter is brown with smooth and thick fur, but light-colored fur may be prominent on their face, neck, belly and ears. All rights reserved. These otters are extremely dextrous, using their forepaws to feel for molluscs and crustaceans in rocks, vegetation and mud. I feel prepared to pass all of my classes. You can test out of the As the name suggests, these Otters don’t have claws. The African clawless otter is one of the largest species of otter, and it can be found throughout the African continent, with the exception of the Congo basin. They can also use their paws to pick up rocks or move logs. Since they have predators on land including Nile crocodiles and eagles they tend to find it safer to be in the water. The African Clawless Otter is primarily aquatic, and is found near water bodies that are permanent to the region. The African Clawless Otter spends a great deal of time in the water. Maybe you thought of zebras and giraffes, but what about otters? - Anatomy, Family & Diet, Baikal Seal: Habitat, Adaptations, Predators & Facts, Ringed Seal: Habitat, Population & Adaptations, Signs, Symptoms & Causes of Bloat in Dogs, Biological and Biomedical Given their wide range and the fact that they mostly live alone, it is difficult to know the exact population of African clawless otters. Video Software we use: https://amzn.to/2KpdCQF Ad-free videos. Interestingly, the offspring are considered mature after about 1 year. I already told all my homeschool friends about it. {{courseNav.course.topics.length}} chapters | Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers, Health and Medicine - Questions & Answers, Working Scholars® Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. They are avid hunters, even looking under logs and rocks for creatures that they can eat. This is the smallest otter species being only about 11 lbs. It takes about 60 days from conception and the litters may be formed by one or 5 pups. However, they usually stay within a much smaller section of this. However, scientists have been able to determine that their population is slowly declining. They tend to mate in December as that is the rainy season in Africa. HABITAT: Grassland, scrub or forest in the vacinity of rivers, streams, lakes, swamps, dams and marine estuaries. With over 29,000 video lessons and study tools, you're guaranteed to find what you need The only area where it is not found is in the Congo basin, which is in Central Africa. Congolese clawless otters are mostly nocturnal, but were observed in quiet secluded marshy places and during the daytime. There they can live to be around 15 years old. However, it is declining, and so they are listed as near-threatened. They immediately go their separate ways afterwards as well. all of The exact population of this species is difficult to track because they live alone and across such a vast area. Species: Eurasian Otter Has a patchy distribution Legal protection: Protected Threats: High human population density and hunting Housing for an Asian small-clawed otter is not for everyone. The International Otter Survival Fund (IOSF) is one of the world's leading otter charities. credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level. How Do I Use Study.com's Assign Lesson Feature? They have a head that is larger than the other species of Otters which is a distinguishing characteristic when you see them in photos or books. ; This mammal has also been known to dine on ducks, small birds (ducks), shrews, reptiles, swans, geese, mollusks, and coots. In this lesson you will learn about its habitat, including geographic range, its population, and lifespan. The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus), also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species of clawless otter in the family Mustelidae. Anyone can earn West African Manatee’s occur within the bolon and were previously hunted for meat. 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Their raft has a given territory and then they each have their own space within it. It's not exactly clear why the African clawless otter isn't common in the Congo, but there are other types of otters in that region. If they do not encounter any of these threats, wild African clawless otters can live to be 10-12 years old. Male otters are slightly larger than females on average. They do live in large family groups. Study.com has thousands of articles about every Create your account. Key words: African clawless otter, Aonyx capensis,habitat selection, river conservation. All morphological adaptations of the Congolese otter are aimed at improving dexterity and tactile sensitivity for orientation and production of food in the polluted waters of the lower Congo basin. Their diet in the wild is crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. Humans that are trying to capture fish in nets tend to be a huge threat to the African Clawless Otter. African clawless otters have thick, smooth fur with almost silky underbellies. They also spend a great deal of time in the water in order to stay cool. They love to play too so you can find them using logs and other items in their environment to have fun with. Key Information: This is the smallest of the world’s otters, about 0.9 m long, weighing around 5 kg. just create an account. Food of Cape clawless otters was estimated by means of faeces (spraint) analysis, using frequency of occurrence, as well as analysis by weight. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. Imagine you are a North American farmer and one day you hear a big ruckus with a lot of clucking, so you go out to check on your chickens. They make dens by digging holes that can be up to six feet deep, extending from the surface down below water level. study They are scurrying away in terror from a brown, furry animal of some kind. The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx Capensis) is also found in the Masarinko Bolon but as with the manatee it is shy and difficult to observe. All lack claws except for digits 2, 3, and 4 of the hind feet. However, their main threat comes from humans. They also eat worms, which they can find in the moist soil at the bottoms of ponds and rivers, by using their paws to dig. 13 species It is reasonable to assume that similar predators take A. capensis congica . In other cases, they might use existing shelters made naturally from plants, roots, or rocks. Abstract In a time of increasing environmental change caused by anthropogenic disturbance, there is a greater need to understand animal adaptations to manmade environments. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including mangroves, beaches, and even desert-like areas.