# oriental small-clawed otter (*Aonyx cinerea*) The oriental small-clawed otter is a playful and curious animal that loves to swim and play in the water. They have small claws that help them catch fish and crabs, making them great hunters in their watery homes. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Asian Small-Clawed Otter, Small-Clawed Otter ![oriental small-clawed otter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Small-clawed_otter_from_Western_Ghats.JPG&width=800) Photo: Clusteronefloyd, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Small-clawed_otter_from_Western_Ghats.JPG) ## Appearance The oriental small-clawed otter is the world's smallest otter, featuring sleek dark brown to grey fur and a lighter, creamy throat and chest. It has a rounded head and distinctive, barely visible claws on its partially webbed paws, making its 'fingers' highly dexterous. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Mustelidae - **Genus:** Amblonyx ## Interesting facts - Families work together to build dens in riverbanks. - Their thick fur keeps them warm and dry in cold water. - These otters often 'juggle' pebbles, a playful behavior! - They communicate using at least 12 different calls! ## Special abilities - **Tactile Paws:** Oriental small-clawed otters can 'feel' for food with their highly sensitive, nimble front paws, which helps them find hidden prey in murky water or mud. - **Underwater Navigator:** Oriental small-clawed otters can close their nostrils and ears underwater, which helps them stay submerged and hunt efficiently without getting water inside. - **Super Whiskers:** Oriental small-clawed otters have long, sensitive whiskers that help them detect vibrations and movement of prey even in dark or muddy waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 70-96 cm - **Weight:** 2.7-5.4 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-16 years - **Speed:** 15 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-7 - **Gestation:** 60-70 days ## Diet & Feeding They are expert hunters, mainly eating crabs, snails, and small fish found in shallow waters. - **Primary Foods:** crabs, snails, clams, small fish, frogs, insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Saltwater crocodile](https://www.snappit.app/explore/saltwater-crocodile) (*Crocodylus porosus*) — Large predators can hunt young or vulnerable otters. - **Eats:** Mud crab (*Scylla serrata*) — Crabs are a favorite and common food source for otters. - **Eats:** Striped snakehead (*Channa striata*) — Small fish are a part of their opportunistic diet. ## 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. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never try to touch wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify oriental small-clawed 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 oriental small-clawed otter? 70-96 cm ### How much does oriental small-clawed otter weigh? 2.7-5.4 kg ### How long does oriental small-clawed otter live? 10-16 years ### How fast can oriental small-clawed otter move? 15 km/h ### What does oriental small-clawed otter eat? They are expert hunters, mainly eating crabs, snails, and small fish found in shallow waters. ### Where is oriental small-clawed otter usually found? Wetlands ### How does oriental small-clawed otter hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Mill Mountain Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mill-mountain-zoo) — Virginia, US · Zoo - [The Living Planet Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-living-planet-aquarium) — Utah, US · Zoo - [Drusillas Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/drusillas-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Frank Buck Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/frank-buck-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Greensboro Science Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greensboro-science-center) — North Carolina, US · Zoo - [Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jacksonville-zoo-and-gardens) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see oriental small-clawed otter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/oriental-small-clawed-otter) ## 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: [Oriental Small-clawed Otter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/oriental-small-clawed-otter)