The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus), also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species in the family Mustelidae. Nearly as large as the African clawless otter but definitely lighter and more slender, the Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) was thought to be a subspecies of the former African clawless otter until recently.
This clawless otter is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and possibly Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, or Uganda.
Very little is known about this species. Little is known about this otter, which is the least studied of the African species. It is a large otter and found only in the mid-part of Africa, in the tropical belt. It is believed to spend much more time on land than other otters.
Congo clawless otters are one of 14 species of otters in the carnivore family Mustelidae. Other members of this family include weasels, wolverines, and ferrets. An individual otter maintains a territory.
An African clawless otter. Source: Wikimedia Commons
Read also: Cameroonian Basketball Star: Nkwain Kennedy
Habitat and Distribution
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, subtropical or tropical swamps, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, rivers, intermittent rivers, shrub-dominated wetlands, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, intermittent freshwater marshes, freshwater spring, inland deltas, saline lakes, intermittent saline lakes, saline marshes, intermittent saline marshes, shallow seas, subtidal aquatic beds, rocky shores, sandy shores, estuarine waters, intertidal flats, intertidal marshes, coastal saline lagoons, coastal freshwater lagoons, water storage areas, ponds, aquaculture ponds, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and canals and ditches.
Physical Characteristics
Congo clawless otters are characterized by only partial webbing (between the toes of their black feet and no webbing on their front feet), and small, blunt, peg-like claws. They have very sensitive forepaws, which they use for foraging. Other otters have fully webbed feet and strong, well-developed claws.
Clawless otters have slender, serpentine bodies with dense, luxurious fur and long tails. All otters have been exploited for their thick, velvety fur. Their head and body length measure to be about 600-1,000 mm (24-39 in), and their tail length is between 400 and 710 mm (16 and 28 in). The Congo clawless otter’s head and neck is frosted with a brilliant white, that make its characteristic black markings under the eyes even more evident.
Its reduced whiskers, absent webbing, tiny claws and generalised dental morphology together with sporadic observations show that this species is mainly terrestrial, exploring marshes and forests. It uses its fingers to dig up molluscs, crabs, earthworms and frogs from the muddy banks.
Otterly Adorble: The Life of Otters
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Reproduction may occur throughout the year. Newborn cubs of A. congicus are white in color and do not reach their adult color of brownish white until about 2 months old.
Read also: History of Cameroon Soccer
Behavior and Diet
They have sharp, small teeth for eating the flesh of their prey. Diet consists mainly of eggs and small animals such as crabs, mollusks, and frogs.
Threats and Conservation Status
It is threatened by habitat loss. The main threat to the species is habitat loss and pollution, and clawless otters are also hunted for their fur.
Although otters are known to be difficult to catch, they are occasionally hunted for bushmeat and sold for similar prices of other bushmeat. Otter bushmeat is common in Congo and Cameroon but not for Gabon because of its reputation of being dangerous. The myth in Gabon is that otters can give electric shocks when caught with a spear.
Otters are also thought to be magical and possess powers that when you catch an otter, skin it, and wear its fur, you are thought to become invisible to an enemy and are able to escape an enemy. The idea comes from the otter's ability to escape fish traps.
Read also: A Look at Cameroon's Qualifying History
Popular articles:
tags: #Cameroon
