The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, native to wetlands, rice paddies, and mangroves across South and Southeast Asia. Its claws are reduced to small blunt nubs that do not extend past its sensitive, dexterous fingertips, which it uses to feel for and crack open crabs, mollusks, and other small prey rather than relying on sight underwater. It lives in tight family groups and is considered Vulnerable, threatened by wetland conversion and by demand for the exotic pet trade.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Relationship to People Comparison
CITES Appendix CITES Appendix Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Asian Small-clawed Otter
In Biome
Source Wikipedia: Asian small-clawed otter
In Ecosystem
Source Wikidata: Tiger
Additional Source Sundarbans (Wikipedia)Article text
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. Wikipedia: Asian small-clawed otter
threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and is threatened by habitat loss, pollution, and in some areas also by hunting.
system (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
The Asian small-clawed otter lives in riverine habitats, freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps.
Infobox: status2
CITES_A1
Infobox: status
VU
- In Biome: Freshwater, Wikipedia intro: "7.7 lb), it is the smallest otter species. The Asian small-clawed otter lives in riverine habitats, freshwater wetlands and mangrove swamps. It feeds on mollusc..."
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Aonyx cinerea (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive: "Amblonyx cinereus consume small crabs which are"
Amblonyx cinereus consume small crabs which are considered agricultural pests.
View the Source 4. Wikidata: Asian Small-clawed Otter
Child Taxon Of: Mustelidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source 5. Wikipedia: Asian small-clawed otter
Sundarbans (Wikipedia)
In Ecosystem: Sundarbans, Article textQuote, In Ecosystem: Sundarbans, Article text
There are other threatened mammal species, such as the capped langur (Semnopithecus pileatus), smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea) and large Indian civet (Viverra zibetha).
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