Name
Cape Clawless Otter [
Aonyx Capensis]
Description
The Cape Clawless Otter is a robust animal and is both nocturnal and diurnal, often found away from water. They feed on crabs, molluscs, fish, birds and a range of rodents and amphibians. They have an acute sense of smell and well-developed canines.
Vital Statistics
- Weight (Female)
- 10 - 18 kg
- Weight (Male)
- 10 - 18 kg
- Length (Female)
- ± 130 cm
- Length (Male)
- ± 130 cm
- Gestation Period
- 2 months
- No of Young
- 2 - 3 cubs
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Mustelidae
Breeding
1 (sometimes 2) young are born throughout the year after a gestation period of ± 9 weeks. The female has 2 pairs of breast mammae.
Spoor Description
The Cape Clawless Otter has 5 toes on the fore- and hind-feet. Those on the hind-feet are webbed for half their length, while webbing on the fore-feet is barely perceptible. In soft mud the 5 toes, the intermediate pads and the proximal pads show clearly in the spoor. In firm mud only an indication of the proximal pads may show.
