# African clawless otter (*Aonyx capensis*) The African clawless otter is a playful and curious animal that loves to swim and explore. They have webbed feet and can dive underwater to find food like fish and crabs. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Clawless Otter ![African clawless otter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cape_Clawless_Otter.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ruby 1x2 at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cape_Clawless_Otter.jpg) ## Appearance The African clawless otter has thick, dark brown fur, often lighter on its belly and throat. Its face and neck typically feature white or cream-colored markings. A unique trait is its partially webbed, dexterous front paws which lack visible claws. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Aonyx ## Interesting facts - An otter's fur is so dense, it traps air to keep them warm and buoyant! - Otter families communicate with chirps, whistles, and even growls to stay connected! - These otters can grow to be as long as a small adult human! - They use clever hand movements to twist open shells, almost like magic! ## Special abilities - **Tactile Hunter:** African clawless otter can use its highly sensitive, clawless paws to expertly feel for and grab prey underwater. - **Whisker Radar:** African clawless otter has long, sensitive whiskers that help it detect fish and crustaceans in dark or muddy water. - **Shell Cracker:** African clawless otter can use its strong jaws to crush hard shells of crabs and mollusks, reaching tasty meals inside. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 70-100 cm - **Weight:** 10-21 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-17 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-5 - **Gestation:** 63 days ## Diet & Feeding These otters love to eat fish, crabs, and other small water creatures they find with their sensitive paws! - **Primary Foods:** crabs, fish, frogs, mollusks, crayfish, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Nile Tilapia (*Oreochromis niloticus*) — A key source of protein in their aquatic diet. - **Hunts:** River Crab (*Potamonautes sidneyi*) — Easily caught with their nimble, clawless paws. - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — A dangerous predator in the otter's watery home. - **Eaten by:** African Rock Python (*Python sebae*) — Can ambush otters near water bodies. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch otters from a distance and never try to touch them in the wild. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify African clawless otter? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is African clawless otter? 70-100 cm ### How much does African clawless otter weigh? 10-21 kg ### How long does African clawless otter live? 10-17 years ### How fast can African clawless otter move? 12 km/h ### What does African clawless otter eat? These otters love to eat fish, crabs, and other small water creatures they find with their sensitive paws! ### Where is African clawless otter usually found? Wetlands ### How does African clawless otter hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [African clawless otter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/african-clawless-otter)