The Asian Short-Clawed Otter On The Alert
The Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea), also known as the Oriental small-clawed otter, is the smallest otter species in the world, weighing less than 5 kg. It lives in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands of Bangladesh, Burma, India, southern China Taiwan, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its paws are a distinctive feature, its claws not extending beyond the fleshy end pads of its partially webbed fingers and toes. This gives it a high degree of manual dexterity so that it can use its paws to feed on molluscs, crabs and other small aquatic animals. Asian small-clawed otters can be found in freshwater wetland systems such as swamps, meandering rivers, mangroves and tidal pools. They are found in irrigated rice fields and wander between patches of reeds and river debris where many crab species (Brachyura) are likely to be found. They dislike bare and open areas that do not offer any shelter. Thus, they prefer pond areas and rice fields over rivers with bare banks. When in the riverine systems they choose areas with low vegetation and their nesting burrows are dug into the muddy banks. This species spend most of its time on land unlike most other otters. They are seriously threatened by rapid habitat destruction, hunting and pollution. Their population trend is decreasing despite being a protected species.
Size: 3968px × 2834px
Location: England
Photo credit: © John Porter LRPS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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