Otters are carnivorous mammals in the Lutrinae branch of the diverse Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, stoats, wolverines, and ferrets, among others. There are 13 living otter species inhabiting aquatic habitats all over the world, with the exceptions of Australia and Antarctica.
Almost everyone knows that otters are at home in the water, but did you know they have specialized vision to help them see underwater? Or that baby sea otters can’t sink? That’s just the beginning.
Types of African Otters
Here we will discuss two types of African Otters: African clawless otter and Spotted-necked otters.
African Clawless Otter
The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterised by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derived.
Aonyx capensis is a member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and of the order Carnivora. Until recently the Congo clawless otter was considered a subspecies as well, but recent authorities treat it as a separate species.
Read also: Experience Fad's Fine African Cuisine
Description
The African clawless otter has a chestnut-coloured thick, smooth fur with almost silky underbellies. It is characterized by white facial markings that extend downward towards its throat and chest areas. Paws are partially webbed with five fingers, but without opposable thumbs. All lack claws except for digits 2, 3, and 4 of the hind feet.
Its large skull is broad and flat, with a relatively small orbit and a short snout. Molars are large and flat, used for crushing of prey. Male otters are slightly larger than females on average. Adults are 113-163 cm (44-64 in) in length, including their tails that comprised about a third of their length. Weights range from 10-36 kg (22-79 lb), with most otters averaging between 12 and 21 kg (26 and 46 lb).
Habitat and Distribution
African clawless otters can be found anywhere from open coastal plains, to semiarid regions, to densely forested areas. Surviving mostly in southern Africa, the otters live in areas surrounding permanent bodies of water, usually surrounded by some form of foliage. Logs, branches, and loose foliage greatly appeal to the otter as this provides shelter, shade, and great rolling opportunities.
In the False Bay area of the Cape Peninsula, they have been observed scavenging along beaches and rocks and hunting in shallow surf for mullet.
The African Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) is found in many areas of the African continent, from South Africa, north along the east coast through Mozambique and Tanzania, up to Ethiopia, and over to the western countries such as Ghana and The Gambia. It is however absent from the central rainforest areas of the continent. Their habitat preferences are extremely varied with recordings of otters being made in deserts, seas, rivers, lakes, estuaries, forests and mangroves!
Read also: The Story Behind Cachapas
Behavior and Diet
Though mostly solitary animals, African clawless otters will live in neighboring territories of family groups of up to five individuals. Each still having its own range within that territory, they mostly keep to themselves unless seeking a mate. Territories are marked using a pair of anal glands which secrete a particular scent.
The African clawless otter spends its days swimming and catching food. They return to burrows (holts) for safety, cooling or a rubdown using grasses and leaves. Mainly aquatic creatures, their tails are used for locomotion and propel them through the water.
The diet of Aonyx capensis primarily includes water-dwelling animals, such as crabs, fish, frogs and worms. They dive after prey to catch it, then swim to shore again, where they eat. Their fore paws come in handy as searching devices and are great tools for digging on the muddy bottoms of ponds and rivers, picking up rocks and looking under logs.
Straight after eating, an otter will clean its face with its forefeet. This species is named for its webless front feet. They will use their front feet to extract food hidden under logs or rocks or in the mud.
Reproduction
Females give birth to litters containing two to five young around early spring. Mating takes place in short periods throughout the rainy season in December. Afterwards, both males and females go their separate ways and return to their solitary lives once more. Young are raised solely by the females. Gestation lasts around two months (63 days).
Read also: Techniques of African Jewellery
Threats and Conservation
Quick in the water and burrowing on land, the African clawless otter does not have many predators. Its greatest threat comes from the python, which will often lie in wait near or in the water. Other predators would include the crocodile and African fish eagle.
The biggest threat to African clawless otters comes from humans. Aonyx specimens will often forage in man-made fisheries and may be hunted or become entangled in nets. Overfishing by humans may reduce the food supply available to otters. They are sometimes hunted for their thick, soft pelts, which humans use in forms of clothing.
In forested areas, logging may be a major threat, since erosion leads to greatly increased turbidity in rivers which can in turn greatly reduce the populations of fish on which the otters depend.
Although spread out over the sub-Saharan countries of the vast continent that is Africa, this otter species is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Increased human population, and the interferences that come with this such as fishing, farming and over grazing, are the real concerns for this animal.
In 2015, the IOSF ran a workshop in Tanzania in order to help raise awareness of the decline in otter numbers, and to help with education for conservation in the areas. This was the first Pan-African event of its kind, with participants from Benin, The Gambia, Ghana, Democratic Rep. of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa and of course, Tanzania!
According to the MPALA LIVE resource, the total number of African clawless otters in South Africa is around 21,500 individuals.
The Otter Trail is a hiking trail in South Africa named after the African clawless otter, which is found in this area.
Spotted-necked Otter
Spotted-necked otters are found in the clear, fresh waters of central Africa, especially in Lake Victoria and Zambia. The Latin name Hydrictis maculicollis breaks down to water (hydro) spotted (macula) neck (collis). The uniquely patterned spots on their chests are dappled with cream-colored or white patches, contrasting their brown to red fur.
The average length of a spotted-necked otter is about 2.5 feet, and they typically weigh between 7-13 pounds, with the males being slightly larger. They have long, flattened tails and are highly flexible, easily able to touch their tails with their noses.
When spotted-necked otters are not in their freshwater habitats, they can be found along the water's edge nestled in rocks and high grasses. Their dense fur traps air for insulation-on average, river otters have about 160,000 hairs per square inch. The irises of their distinctive eyes can change shape to help them see underwater and on land. They also tend to be quite vocal.
Spotted-necked otters' claws, webbed feet and teeth all make it easier to catch, hold onto and eat their fish prey.
Breeding generally takes place in June and July. After two months of gestation, females give birth in their burrows to litters of one to three pups.
Spotted-neck otters are listed as near-threatened on the IUCN Red list. Their numbers are in decline primarily due to habitat loss and destruction, especially from unsustainable agricultural land expansion, pollution and invasive species.
Interesting facts about cape clawless otter by weird square
General Otter Facts
Here are some interesting facts about different otter species:
- Giant river otters have at least 22 different vocalizations.
- All otters are semi-aquatic, except for sea otters (Enhydra lutris) and marine otters (Lontra felina), which are almost entirely aquatic.
- Otters have whiskers on their muzzles, called vibrissae. They may also have superciliary (“eyebrow”) whiskers and neck whiskers.
- Research indicates otters have dichromatic vision.
- Asian small-clawed otters have less webbing on their forepaws, giving them greater manual dexterity.
- Many otter species, including, but not limited to giant river otters, North American river otters, African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis), smooth-coated otters (Lutrogale perspicillata), Asian small-clawed otters, and Eurasian river otters, use communal latrines.
- Speaking of otter spraint, otters do a little dance before they use the latrine.
- The rarest otter species, the hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), was believed to be extinct in 1998 after there had been no sightings for a decade.
- Sea otters don’t have blubber, but they compensate by having the thickest fur in the world.
- Otter species run the gamut when it comes to size.
