The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater species of otter. Title: Congo clawless otter, Author: Otter Net, Name: Congo clawless otter, Length: 1 pages, Page: 1, Published: 2015-08-30 . Due to their amphibious lifestyle, these otters are both excellent swimmers and skilled explorers of the shores (Kingdon, 1982). Close. Canisius College students under the direction of Other mustelids include ferrets and mink. Habitat: The Congo Clawless Otter lives in wetlands, streams, rivers, and shallow lake margins or ponds in the rainforest. The taxonomic status and the criteria to differentiate A. congicus from the quite similar Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) are reviewed. They are the least aquatic of all the otters. The Congo Clawless otter occurs in rain forests and lowland swamps of the Congo river basin and the extreme southwest of the Central African Republic; as well as the forests and wetland areas of Rwanda, Burundi, and southwestern Uganda. Little is known about this otter, which is the least studied of the African species. Generally colored brown with white underbellies, Congo clawless aonyx, which means They have revealed a lot more information on behaviour and are acting as ambassadors to encourage otter conservation. As you might expect, the African clawless otter lives in Africa. They use their incredibly dexterous Others claim that the Congo clawless otter is a valid… 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. They weigh be­tween 10 and 22 kg. DNA work by Koepfli & Wayne (1998 & 2003) indicated that the Asian small-clawed otter is a sister species to the African clawless and Congo clawless otters. It has recently been recorded from Cross River State in southeastern Nigeria (Rowe-Rowe 1995). very similar to human hands. It was formerly recognized as a subspecies (Aonyx capensis congicus) of the African clawless otter. Their range in the Western Ghats too has increased with sightings and evidence being reported from the northern Western Ghats, well extending their range beyond the hills of Coorg and Ashambu. They demonstrate a high climatic and trophic adaptability, occurring from tropical coastal wetlands up to mountain streams. However, this species is currently threatened by the The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus), also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is species of clawless otter 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. It 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. Aadrean, Indonesia: Studies on diet, interactions with humans and threats including the pet trade in Indonesia. Spotted-necked Otter is common in Lake Tele but no evidence for the rest of the country The Congo Clawless is rare but found in the Likouala,Cuvette and Virunga volcanoes regions. Abstract. and fourth digits of the hindlimbs. Hairy-nosed otter, Lutra sumatrana. This species is semi-aquatic, meaning it splits its time between water and land. Distribution The African clawless otter is Africa’s most widely distributed otter, from Senegal, through most parts of West Africa as far as Ethiopia, and in the south to South Africa. Rainforest Small-clawed otters prefer shallow water, with a good food supply, and moderate to low bankside vegetation. As the name suggests, these Otters don’t have claws. It is closely related to the cape clawless otter, so similar Their tail mea­sures 465 mm to 515 mm long and is typ­i­cally stout and ta­pered. Group sizes of more than 20 animals have been recorded. Habitat loss will Least adapted of all otters to aquatic way of life and has short fur providing less insulation. Meanwhile, five species are declared endangered – Sea Otter, Marine Otter, South American River Otter, Hairy-Nosed Otter and Giant Otter. The Try. The Congo Congolese clawless otters are found only on the African continent: from southeastern Nigeria and Gabon to Uganda and Burundi in central Africa. Among the 4 African otter species, the Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) is the least known because of the remoteness of its Central African equatorial rainforest range. Aug 18, 2017 - Congo clawless otter--as adorable as their Asian relatives. These otters are known to be highly elusive in disturbed landscapes, and this could potentially contribute to the perception of a decline in population. Diet Congo Clawless Otters feed on fish, frogs, crabs, mollusks and … its fur. They have even been recorded from storm water drains in Jakarta, indicating their adaptability to modified habitats. These otters are extremely dextrous, using their forepaws to feel for molluscs and crustaceans in rocks, vegetation and mud. result in the decline of this species, which is already rare. S. A. Hussain, India: Studies on the range and habitat utilisation of small-clawed otter in South India. deforestation, occurring throughout Africa. Evaluators: Conroy, J. The only area where it is not found is in the Congo basin, which is in Central Africa. 6. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. Other articles where African clawless otter is discussed: otter: Freshwater otters: African clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) and Congo clawless otters (A. congicus or A. capensis congicus) occupy murky waterways and thus rely more on manual dexterity than on vision to obtain food (mostly crabs) from under rocks. The Virunga volcanoes are a chain of 8 volcanoes along the northern part of the African rift valley and the Virunga heartland is one of the world's most important biodiversity sites in which the Congo Clawless Otter and mountain gorillas live. In mountainous areas, they frequent swift-flowing forest streams with rocks and boulders. otters lack claws on all digits, with exception of the second, third It does spend a lot of time in the water, … basin directly west to the Atlantic coast of Africa. Species: Congo Clawless and Spotted-necked Otter. 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. Saved by Corinne Gonnin-Le Guillou. They range through most of sub-Saharan Africa, except for the Congo River basin and arid areas, where they are replaced by the related Congo clawless otter(Aonyx congicus). Issuu company logo. Adults usually weigh between 15 to 25 kg. Although international and national level legal protection is in place, local legislation is needed. On January 17th 2002 Mount Nyiragongo, j… The Congo clawless otter is a larger species with a total length of 118 to 156 cm, with 40 to 59 cm of it being the tail. direct threats need to be better understood, Habitat protection and inter-population corridors need to be established, Research on all aspects of this species biology and ecology is needed, World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Virtual Zoo. Adults range in length from 4-5 In fact, four species are already tagged as ‘Near Threatened’ – African Clawless Otter, Congo Clawless Otter, Neotropical Otter and Spotted-Necked Otter. Little else is known It is very silky in appearance as well as to the touch. Their preferred food is crustaceans and molluscs. in length, weighing 30-70lbs. The Congo Clawless Otter's scientific name is Aonyx Red List Category: VU (Vulnerable), population decreasing congica. The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus) is a type of otter. This is the smallest of the world’s otters, about 0.9 m long, weighing around 5 kg. Congo clawless otters are characterized by only partial webbing (between the toes of their back feet and no webbing on their front feet), and small, blunt, peg-like claws. Although the species’ range appears large, in the last decade, actual distribution has shrunk, especially in the west, compared to historical records. They are characterized by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derive… The Congo clawless otter (Aonyx congicus), also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is a species of clawless otter in the family Mustelidae. They are also slightly larger than its close relative, the Congo clawless Otter.Their diet consists mainly crabs, frogs and fish. They are the least aquatic of all otters. 1. "not-clawed", refers to this otter species' clawless forelimbs. On a more positive note, there is increased evidence of otters using modified landscapes such as coffee and tea plantations in India and though habitat destruction might be of concern, direct threats need to be better understood. Their head and body length ranges from 762 mm to 880 mm. paws to grab prey such as mollusks and crustaceans. The African Clawless Otter is the second largest of all freshwater species. Prey biomass is also being reduced by overexploitation, and in some places, the vast aquaculture industry regards otters as pests and persecutes them directly. This is believed to be an adaptable species in modified landscapes. The Congo clawless otter is found in Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Burundi, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Rwanda, or Uganda. India: Studies on diet, interactions with humans and threats including the pet trade in Indonesia more. 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