African Cape Clawless Otter

scientific name

Aonyx capensis

size

Weight. males 40 lbs. (39-61 lbs. range) " females 39 lbs. (29-40 lbs. range)
Tail Length. 16-27"
Head/Body length. 29-38"

characteristics

Adaptations/Coloration. dark brown (sometimes white or grizzled hair tips) above " cheeks/neck white - bib " bib becomes darker with age till no longer presents strong contrast.
Body. built for swimming elongated " tightly packed underfur with long water-repellent guard hairs
Ears. small " round " closed underwater
Forepaws. clawless " webless " strong, monkey-like dexterity
Hindpaws. small web " middle toe claw for grooming
Limbs. short " forelegs shorter than hindlimbs
Nostrils. closed underwater
Smell. most important sense on land
Tail. fully furred " thick at base " tapering to point
Thumb. opposable " grasp & hold down objects " search for prey by touch alone
Whiskers. numerous " stiff (vibrissae) around nose & snout " used to locate food underwater, along with sight

behavior

Carrying Objects. generally held against chest " not taken in teeth

Feeding. food taken day & night " generally chew food with food held fast in hands " eat on ground while resting weight on elbows " rarely eat while in water - if done, done while floating on back " will reach for food offered with forepaws " captive otters often carry food to nearest water & dowse it before eating
Finger. used to probe mud & crevices for crabs, frogs, & octopus in coastal waters
Group. live in pairs " seldom over 4-5
Hunting. night mostly
Scent Marking. paired glands at tail base " delineates territorial boundaries " communicates information on identity, sex, & sexual state, & time elapsed from last scent marking
Voice. very vocal " large repertoire of calls

reproduction/life span

Birth. 2-5 " eyes open ~4 wk " hidden in burrow, crevice, root, or reed tangle " begin venturing out with mother ~4 wk " lose pale undercoloring & wooly coat ~1 yr.
Breeding. uncertain if breed seasonally
Gestation. ~63 days
Nest: some sort built
Parenting. both parents

diet

Wild. catfish, crabs, crocodile eggs, frogs, mollusks, monitor lizard, mudfish, mudturtles, rodents, & various waterfowl & their eggs
Zoo. Houstons Diet - daily - 1 mackerel (trout), 1 lb. shrimp, 1 squid, 1/2 thiamin tablet, 1/2 sea tab " .3 cc heartworm medication a month

habitat/range

swamps " rivers " streams " lakes estuaries at all altitudes " wherever enough permanent water to support crabs, mollusks, & mudfish " Africa, south of Sahara

oregon zoo exhibit

Africa Rain forest