Asian Small-Clawed Otter

Small-clawed otters eat fish, amphibians, crabs, and mollusks. They use their front paws to dig in the sand and mud along the shorelines to find shellfish.

At the Zoo, the otters are offered specially formulated wet and dry food, fish, clams, mussels, scallops, crickets, and mealworms. Each otter eats about two pounds of seafood every day.

Asian small-clawed otters are found across southeast Asia, extending from India to the Philippines, Taiwan, and southern China. This species inhabits the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, including small islands in the eastern part of Sumatra, Java, and Borneo.

Over the last 60 years, the range of the small-clawed otter has significantly shrunk, shifting from west to east.

Asian small-clawed otters live in many different kinds of habitats that offer shallow water or pools for hunting, along with muddy banks for dens and plants for shelter. They do well in natural areas like ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, and coastal regions. They also adapt to human-made environments, such as rice fields and irrigation channels.

Potential predators of Asian small-clawed otters include crocodiles, snakes, and domestic dogs.

The main threat to these otters is habitat destruction due to changing land use and human development. In many areas of Asia, their habitats are shrinking because of things like clearing peat swamp forests and mangroves, building fish farms along shores, and the loss of small streams in the hills. In India, a main reason for habitat loss is the creation of tea and coffee plantations. Coastal mangroves are being destroyed by fish farming and expanding human populations. The use of pesticides from these plantations also negatively impacts these ecosystems.

Another major threat is the decline in prey availability caused by overfishing and pollution. Additionally, chemicals and heavy metals in the water can harm otters' health, making it harder for them to thrive.

Asian small-clawed otters have long, streamlined bodies and short legs. Their fur is soft and brown, with markings of gray, white, or cream on their faces and throats. Their front feet are partly webbed and may have blunt or no claws. Even though their fingers are short, their paws are very flexible and good at grabbing things. Their large back teeth are perfect for breaking open the hard shells of crabs and snails.

These otters have strong tails and powerful back legs that help them move quickly through the water. They are fast and flexible swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for five minutes or more. Their nostrils and small ears can close while they swim underwater, which improves their diving abilities. Asian small-clawed otters have great eyesight and sensitive whiskers, called "vibrissae", on their snouts and elbows that can pick up changes in the water, making it easier for them to find prey.

Their fur has two layers: a thick underlayer that keeps them warm and outer hairs that keep water out. The underfur is tightly packed, while the longer guard hairs on top help repel water. There are air pockets in their fur that keep them warm and dry while they’re swimming, so otters groom themselves often to make sure air stays in their coats.

Breeding can occur throughout the year, and mated pairs can have two litters yearly. After about 60 days of pregnancy, the mother gives birth to a litter in a burrow that she digs into the muddy riverbank. Each litter can have between one and six pups, but usually, there are two. The otter pups are born with closed eyes and weigh only about two ounces. They nurse from their mom every three to four hours for the first few weeks.

When the pups are around six weeks old, they open their eyes. By ten weeks, they start to go outside the den and eat solid food. They are weaned (stop nursing) by about 14 weeks. During this time, their mom teaches them how to swim. All members of the family help feed and care for the young. They grow to their full size in about eight months but are not mature enough to reproduce until they are about one and a half years old.

Asian small-clawed otters are a very vocal species, using at least twelve different sounds to communicate. Each whistle, buzz, twitter, chirp, or chuckle has its own meaning.

These otters also use scent markings as an important form of communication. They have scent glands located at the base of their tails that release a strong, musky smell. This scent helps them mark their territory and share information about themselves. They will defecate or spray urine in common areas to share this information with other otters.

In addition to sounds and scents, otters communicate by using visual signals and physical touch, such as grooming each other or showing different body postures.

Small-clawed otters are social animals that live in family groups called "lodges," which can have 15 to 20 members. Even though they stay in these groups, they usually hunt alone.

These otters are well-adapted to aquatic environments, but they actually spend more time on land compared to other types of otters. Play is a big part of their lives; it helps them learn how to hunt and strengthens their family connections and social skills. 

You can take many simple actions to protect Asian small-clawed otters and their habitats!

Keep trash out of waterways that lead to the ocean and otter homes. Try to use fewer single-use items, like plastic bags or straws, and choose reusable options instead. Always throw away your trash properly, so it does not end up in rivers or the ocean.

Share information and your excitement for Asian small-clawed otters with others. Talking about these amazing animals can help raise awareness and support their protection.