Animalia > Chordata > Mammalia > Carnivora > Mustelidae > Aonyx > Aonyx capensis
 

Aonyx capensis (African Clawless Otter; swamp otter; African small-clawed otter)

Wikipedia Abstract

The African clawless otter (Aonyx capensis), also known as the cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second largest freshwater species of otter. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas. They range through most of sub-Saharan Africa, except for the Congo basin and arid areas. They are characterized by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derived.
View Wikipedia Record: Aonyx capensis

Infraspecies

Aonyx capensis capensis (African clawless otter)
Aonyx capensis congicus (Congo Clawless Otter) (Attributes)
Aonyx capensis hindei (African clawless otter)
Aonyx capensis meneleki (African clawless otter)
Aonyx capensis microdon (Cameroons otter)
Aonyx capensis philippsi (Philip's otter)

EDGE Analysis

Uniqueness Scale: Similiar (0) 
2
 Unique (100)
Uniqueness & Vulnerability Scale: Similiar & Secure (0) 
19
 Unique & Vulnerable (100)
ED Score: 6.38
EDGE Score: 2
Learn more at EDGE of Existence programme

Attributes

Adult Weight [1]  51.81 lbs (23.50 kg)
Birth Weight [1]  2.31 lbs (1.05 kg)
Female Maturity [1]  1 year
Male Maturity [1]  1 year
Gestation [1]  63 days
Litter Size [1]  3
Maximum Longevity [1]  14 years
Weaning [1]  53 days

Ecoregions

Name Countries Ecozone Biome Species Report Map Climate Land
Use
Albany thickets South Africa Afrotropic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Angolan Miombo woodlands Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Angolan montane forest-grassland mosaic Angola Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Angolan Scarp savanna and woodlands Angola Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands Tanzania, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Zambia, Malawi Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Cross-Niger transition forests Nigeria Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands South Africa Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands and forests South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
East African halophytics Tanzania Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
East African mangroves Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia Afrotropic Mangroves
East African montane forests Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
East African montane moorlands Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
East Sudanian savanna Chad, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Eastern Arc forests Tanzania, Kenya Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Eastern Guinean forests Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Togo Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Eastern Miombo woodlands Tanzania, Mozambique Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic Zimbabwe, Mozambique Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Ethiopian montane forests Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Ethiopian montane grasslands and woodlands Ethiopia, Eritrea Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Ethiopian montane moorlands Ethiopia Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Guinean forest-savanna mosaic Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Guinean mangroves Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire Afrotropic Mangroves
Guinean montane forests Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Highveld grasslands South Africa Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Inner Niger Delta flooded savanna Mali Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
Itigi-Sumbu thicket Tanzania, Zambia Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Knysna-Amatole montane forests South Africa Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
KwaZulu-Cape coastal forest mosaic South Africa Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Lake Chad flooded savanna Nigeria, Chad, Niger Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
Lowland fynbos and renosterveld South Africa Afrotropic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Mandara Plateau mosaic Cameroon, Nigeria Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Maputaland coastal forest mosaic Mozambique, Swaziland, South Africa Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Maputaland-Pondoland bushland and thickets South Africa Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Montane fynbos and renosterveld South Africa Afrotropic Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub
Mount Cameroon and Bioko montane forests Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Niger Delta swamp forests Nigeria Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Nigerian lowland forests Nigeria, Benin Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Northern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Northern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Central African Republic, Cameroon Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Saharan flooded grasslands Sudan Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
Sahelian Acacia savanna Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Serengeti volcanic grasslands Tanzania Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic Malawi, Mozambique Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Southern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets Tanzania, Kenya Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Southern Africa bushveld Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Southern Africa mangroves South Africa, Mozambique Afrotropic Mangroves
Southern Congolian forest-savanna mosaic Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Southern Miombo woodlands Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Southern Rift montane forest-grassland mosaic Malawi, Tanzania Afrotropic Montane Grasslands and Shrublands
Southern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Victoria Basin forest-savanna mosaic Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
West Sudanian savanna Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger, Nigeria Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Western Congolian forest-savanna mosaic Gabon, Congo, Democratic Rep of the Congo, Angola Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Western Guinean lowland forests Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
Western Zambezian grasslands Angola, Zambia Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Zambezian and Mopane woodlands South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, Malawi Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Zambezian Baikiaea woodlands Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands
Zambezian coastal flooded savanna Mozambique Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas
Zambezian Cryptosepalum dry forests Zambia Afrotropic Tropical and Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
Zambezian flooded grasslands Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia Afrotropic Flooded Grasslands and Savannas

Protected Areas

Name IUCN Category Area acres Location Species Website Map Climate Land Use
Bontebok National Park II 8315 Western Cape, South Africa
Golden Gate Highlands National Park II 28689 Free State, South Africa
Itala Game Reserve Provincial Nature Reserve II 72822 Kwazulu Natal, South Africa  
Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve II 256073 Western Cape, South Africa  
Kora National Park II 409762 Kenya
Kruger National Park II 4718115 Mpumalanga, South Africa
Kruger to Canyons Biosphere Reserve   Mpumalanga, South Africa  
Lake Manyara National Park II 78767 Tanzania  
Mahale Mountains National Park II 398414 Tanzania
Malolotja Nature Reserve IV 42044 Swaziland  
Mamili National Park II 83904 Namibia  
Mount Kenya Biosphere Reserve II 146694 Kenya
Naute Dam Recreational Resort V 58352 Namibia  
Parc National de la Comoe National Park II 2902593 Côte d'Ivoire  
Parc National de Tai National Park II 1085310 Côte d'Ivoire  
Reserve de la Biosphere de la Pendjari Biosphere Reserve 217453 Benin  
Reserve de la Biosphere des Monts Nimba Biosphere Reserve 358797 Guinea  
Richtersveld National Park II 399195 Northern Cape, South Africa
Skeleton Coast Game Park II 4168395 Namibia  
South Luangwa National Park II 2220358 Zambia  
Tsitsikamma National Park II 34343 Southern Cape, South Africa  
Weenen Nature Reserve   Kwazulu Natal, South Africa  
West Caprivi Game Reserve Game Park VI 1448182 Namibia  

Biodiversity Hotspots

Name Location Endemic Species Website Map
Cape Floristic Region South Africa No
Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa Kenya, Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania No
Eastern Afromontane Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe No
Guinean Forests of West Africa Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo No
Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland No

Prey / Diet

Amietia angolensis (Common River Frog)[2]
Amphilius krefftii (Stargazer mountain catlet)[2]
Anax imperator (Emperor Dragonfly )[2]
Anguilla bengalensis (Mottled eel)[2]
Barbus anoplus (Chubbyhead barb)[3]
Cyclograpsus punctatus (brown rock crab)[3]
Guinusia chabrus (red rock crab)[3]
Haliotis midae (South African abalone)[3]
Jasus lalandii (Cape rock lobster)[3]
Labeobarbus natalensis (Scaly)[3]
Lepomis macrochirus (Bluegill)[3]
Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth bass)[3]
Micropterus salmoides (Northern largemouth bass)[3]
Octopus vulgaris (common octopus)[3]
Oncorhynchus mykiss (redband trout)[2]
Otomys irroratus (vlei rat)[2]
Phrynobatrachus mababiensis (Mababe River Frog)[4]
Potamon perlatus[2]
Psammobates pardalis (Leopard Tortoise)[4]
Salmo trutta (Brown trout)[3]
Steatomys pratensis (fat mouse)[4]
Tilapia sparrmanii (Banded bream)[3]
Tockus nasutus epirhinus (South African grey hornbill)[4]
Xenopus muelleri (Mueller's clawed frog)[4]

Prey / Diet Overlap

Competing SpeciesCommon Prey Count
Arctocephalus pusillus (Brown Fur Seal)1
Ardea cinerea (Grey Heron)1
Asio capensis (Marsh Owl)2
Atelerix albiventris (Four-toed Hedgehog)1
Bitis arietans (Puff Adder)1
Bubo africanus (Spotted Eagle-Owl)1
Bucorvus leadbeateri (Southern Ground Hornbill)4
Canis mesomelas (Black-backed Jackal)5
Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia (Herald Snake, Red-lipped Snake)1
Dendroaspis polylepis (Black Mamba)3
Diplodus cervinus hottentotus (Zebra)2
Elanus caeruleus (Black-winged Kite)1
Eremomela icteropygialis (Yellow-bellied Eremomela)1
Eupodotis senegalensis (White-bellied Bustard)2
Glaucidium perlatum (Pearl-spotted Owlet)3
Haliaeetus vocifer (African Fish Eagle)5
Helogale parvula (Common Dwarf Mongoose)3
Hemachatus haemachatus (Rinkhals, Ring-necked Spitting Cobra, Ringhals)1
Hydrictis maculicollis (Spotted-necked Otter)2
Ictonyx striatus (Striped Polecat)1
Leptailurus serval (Serval)2
Leptoptilos crumeniferus (Marabou Stork)3
Lophaetus occipitalis (Long-crested Eagle)1
Lycaon pictus (African wild dog)1
Mellivora capensis (Honey Badger)1
Naja nivea (Cape Cobra)1
Necrosyrtes monachus (Hooded Vulture)1
Nycteris grandis (large slit-faced bat)1
Orcinus orca (Killer Whale)1
Otocyon megalotis (Bat-eared Fox)1
Otolemur crassicaudatus (greater galago)1
Panthera pardus (Leopard)4
Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant)1
Phalacrocorax neglectus (Bank Cormorant)1
Poecilogale albinucha (African Striped Weasel)1
Potamochoerus porcus (red river hog)1
Psammobates pardalis (Leopard Tortoise)2
Psammophis angolensis (Dwarf Sand Snake)2
Pseudaspis cana (Mole Snake)1
Python sebae (African Rock Python)1
Rhamphiophis oxyrhynchus rostratus (Rufous-beaked snake)2
Tachybaptus ruficollis (Little Grebe)3
Tockus nasutus epirhinus (South African grey hornbill)1
Torgos tracheliotus (lappet-faced vulture)1
Tursiops truncatus (Bottlenosed Dolphin)1
Tyto alba (Barn Owl)1
Tyto capensis (Grass Owl)1
Varanus niloticus (Nile Monitor, Water Leguaan)3
Xenopus muelleri (Mueller's clawed frog)1

Predators

Crocodylus niloticus (Nile crocodile)[4]

Consumers

Parasitized by 
Baschkirovitrema incrassatum[5]
Cloeoascaris spinicollis[5]
Prudhoella rhodesiensis[5]

Institutions (Zoos, etc.)

    Maps
Institution Infraspecies / Breed 
Granby Zoo / Zoo de Granby
San Diego Zoocapensis
Toledo Zoological Gardens
Tygerberg Zoopark

Range Map

Link to Map
Africa;

External References

Photos

Citations

Species recognized by Wozencraft W.C., 15-Aug-2007, ITIS Global: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System in Catalog of Life 2011
Attributes / relations provided by ♦ 1de Magalhaes, J. P., and Costa, J. (2009) A database of vertebrate longevity records and their relation to other life-history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 22(8):1770-1774 ♦ 2DIET AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF CAPE CLAWLESS OTTERS IN EASTERN ZIMBABWE, J. R. A. BUTLER and J. T. DU TOIT, IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull. 11 1995 ♦ 3Aonyx capensis, Serge Larivière, MAMMALIAN SPECIES No. 671, pp. 1–6 (2001) ♦ 4The Serengeti food web: empirical quantification and analysis of topological changes under increasing human impact, Sara N. de Visser, Bernd P. Freymann and Han Olff, Journal of Animal Ecology 2011, 80, 484–494 ♦ 5Gibson, D. I., Bray, R. A., & Harris, E. A. (Compilers) (2005). Host-Parasite Database of the Natural History Museum, London
Ecoregions provided by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF). WildFinder: Online database of species distributions, ver. 01.06 gis.wwfus.org/wildfinder
Protected Areas provided by Biological Inventories of the World's Protected Areas in cooperation between the Information Center for the Environment at the University of California, Davis and numerous collaborators.
Biodiversity Hotspots provided by Biodiversity Hotspots, Conservation International
Images provided by Google Image Search
Abstract provided by DBpedia licensed under a Creative Commons License
EDGE analysis provided by EDGE of Existence programme, Zoological Society of London
Range map provided by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Conservation International & NatureServe.
Weather provided by NOAA METAR Data Access
Institution information provided by International Species Information System - May 2011