Asian small-clawed otter
This otter lives at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.
The Asian small-clawed otter is the worlds smallest otter. Its head-to-body length ranges from 18.5 to 24 in. (470 to 610 mm) with a 10 to 13.5 in. (255 to 343 mm) long, thick and muscular tail. Adults weigh from 6 to 7.7 lb. (2.7 to 3.5 kg). The otter has deep brown fur with some rufous tinge on the back with lighter underfur.
These are the most social of all the otter species and live in extended family groups numbering up to 20 individuals. Groups with more than 30 otters have been recorded feeding together in Malaysia.
They inhabits shallow, fast flowing fresh waters from India to Southeast Asia including the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Palawan. When swimming on the surface they row with the forelimbs and paddle with the hind limbs, when diving they undulate their bodies and tails.
The otters short claws allow their sensitive toe tips to feel for food items, especially in shallow, muddy water.
This otters feeds mainly on crabs, mudskippers and fish. When and where available, it also catches snakes, frogs, snails, insects, rats and small mammals, small birds and paddy field fish like catfish, perch and snakehead. It will also eat eggs.
This otter has two litters a year. Sometimes as many as 8 pups may be born but 4 or 5 is more usual. Pups are born in a nest built of grass, hay or straw with closed eyes, which open in the 5th. week. They weigh between 1.61 and 2.20 oz. (45.5 and 62.5 g) and reach a weight of 14.5 to 34.9 oz. (410 to 990 g) after 60 days. They start exploring the area around the breeding den at the age of 10 weeks. At about 3 months, they enter and paddle in shallow water under the guidance of the mother. They become independent at the age of 4 to 5 months. A pup can expect a lifespan of between 11 to 16 years.
The Asian small-clawed otter is threatened by poaching for its fur, loss and destruction of habitats such as hill streams, peat swamp forests and mangroves. Threats in India include deforestation, conversion of natural habitat for tea and coffee plantations, overfishing of rivers and water pollution through pesticides.
It is the most sought after otter species for the illegal pet trade in Asia. At least 711 Asian small-clawed otters were offered for sale through online websites by 280 traders in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam between 2016 and 2017. Between December 2015 and October 2018, 49 Asian small-clawed otters were confiscated from wildlife traffickers in Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, 35 of them were bound for sale in Japan.
The estimated total population size of the species might be around 5,000 otters. Currently, Asian small-clawed otters are classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.
Asian small-clawed otter
This otter lives at Thrigby Hall Wildlife Gardens.
The Asian small-clawed otter is the worlds smallest otter. Its head-to-body length ranges from 18.5 to 24 in. (470 to 610 mm) with a 10 to 13.5 in. (255 to 343 mm) long, thick and muscular tail. Adults weigh from 6 to 7.7 lb. (2.7 to 3.5 kg). The otter has deep brown fur with some rufous tinge on the back with lighter underfur.
These are the most social of all the otter species and live in extended family groups numbering up to 20 individuals. Groups with more than 30 otters have been recorded feeding together in Malaysia.
They inhabits shallow, fast flowing fresh waters from India to Southeast Asia including the islands of Sumatra, Java, Borneo and Palawan. When swimming on the surface they row with the forelimbs and paddle with the hind limbs, when diving they undulate their bodies and tails.
The otters short claws allow their sensitive toe tips to feel for food items, especially in shallow, muddy water.
This otters feeds mainly on crabs, mudskippers and fish. When and where available, it also catches snakes, frogs, snails, insects, rats and small mammals, small birds and paddy field fish like catfish, perch and snakehead. It will also eat eggs.
This otter has two litters a year. Sometimes as many as 8 pups may be born but 4 or 5 is more usual. Pups are born in a nest built of grass, hay or straw with closed eyes, which open in the 5th. week. They weigh between 1.61 and 2.20 oz. (45.5 and 62.5 g) and reach a weight of 14.5 to 34.9 oz. (410 to 990 g) after 60 days. They start exploring the area around the breeding den at the age of 10 weeks. At about 3 months, they enter and paddle in shallow water under the guidance of the mother. They become independent at the age of 4 to 5 months. A pup can expect a lifespan of between 11 to 16 years.
The Asian small-clawed otter is threatened by poaching for its fur, loss and destruction of habitats such as hill streams, peat swamp forests and mangroves. Threats in India include deforestation, conversion of natural habitat for tea and coffee plantations, overfishing of rivers and water pollution through pesticides.
It is the most sought after otter species for the illegal pet trade in Asia. At least 711 Asian small-clawed otters were offered for sale through online websites by 280 traders in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam between 2016 and 2017. Between December 2015 and October 2018, 49 Asian small-clawed otters were confiscated from wildlife traffickers in Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, 35 of them were bound for sale in Japan.
The estimated total population size of the species might be around 5,000 otters. Currently, Asian small-clawed otters are classified as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List.