| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |

Small-clawed otter Aonyx cinerea Illiger, 1889

Distribution

It occurs in north India from the Himalayan foothills of Himachal Pradesh (Kulu), West Bengal, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (ZSI 1992, Choudhury 1997a,b, 1999) as well as in southern India, in the higher ranges of the hills in Coorg (Karnataka), Ashambu, Nilgiri and Palni hills (Tamil Nadu) and some places in Kerala (Pocock 1941, Prater 1971). Outside India it occurs in Myanmar, Thailand, southern China, Laos PDR, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines (Mason & Macdonald 1986, Wozencraft 1993).

Description

It is smallest of all otter species (Harris 1968). It is distinguished from the Eurasian and smooth-coated otter in external characters by the structure of the feet, which are considerably narrower, with more emarginate webs which do not extend along the digital pads and are sparsely covered below with short hair. The claws, except in small cubs, are minute, erect spikes, not projecting beyond the end of the 

digital pads. The planter pads are better developed, more normal in shape, sub-symmetrical and four lobed. The rhinarium is as in the smooth-coated otter (inverted V shaped). The shape of the tail is similar to Eurasian otter and is little longer than the length of the head and body. The colour of the dorsal surface is dark brown, sometimes with a tawny or rufous tinge and the tip of the contour hair paler. The underside is generally paler brown than the upper part often showing grey cast. The edge of the upper lip, chin, cheek, side of the neck and throat are grey or nearly white. The length of the head and body is around 420 to 540 mm, tail 233 to 330 mm and weight ranges between 2.7 to 5.4 kg.

Pocock (1941) reports two subspecies from India. A. cinerea concolor, Rafinesque, 1832 occurs in Himalayas from Kulu eastwards from entire northeast India, locality type - Garo hills, Assam. A. cinerea nirnai Pocock, 1940 occurs in southern India, locality type - Virajpet in south Coorg.

Behaviour and ecology

In most of their range the small-clawed otters are sympatric with smooth-coated and Eurasian otters. In India all three species occur in southwest India particularly from Western Ghats and possibly in the hills of Uttar Pradesh and Assam. In south India it is mostly found along hill streams. It was once common in the mangroves of east Calcutta and Sunderbans (Sanyal 1991). In Malaysia and Indonesia including Java it occurs in coastal wetlands, and along the banks of paddy fields. Comparable data from Java, Myanmar, and India revealed that Oriental small-clawed otter has a high climatic and trophic adaptability in south and southeast Asian tropics, occurring from coastal wetlands up to mountain streams (Melisch et al, 1996). In contrast to Lutra species it is an invertebrate feeder. Invertebrates constitute around 87% of its diet. The other important prey species are fish, amphibians and snakes. In the wild, the small-clawed otters have been seen both singly and in groups ranging from 2 to 8. It is active both during day and night, but it is mainly nocturnal. In captivity, females are capable to breed at the age of 15 months. The gestation period is around 60 days and litter size ranges from 2-7. Life span in captivity is around 11 years (Crandall 1964).

Conservation status

Listed in Schedule I and part I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Appendix II of CITES and LR nt in IUCN Red List. It was not evaluated during the CAMP Workshop.

| Introduction | Mustelids | Viverrids | Herpestids | 
| Conservation Significance | References |