Carnivores: Aardwolf African Wild Cat African Wild Dog Banded Mongoose Bat Eared Fox Black-backed Jackal Brown Hyena Cape Clawless Otter Cape Fox Caracal Cheetah Civet Dhole Large Spotted Genet Golden Jackal Honey badger Leopard African Lion Asiatic Lion Sand Cat Serval Side Striped Jackal Snow Leopard Spotted Hyena Striped Hyena Suricate (Meercat) Tiger White Tailed Mongoose Yellow Mongoose
Cape Clawless Otters are large otters which are around 1.3 metres in length and typically weigh around 12-18 Kg with males being around 2Kg heavier than females on average. Cape Clawless Otters can weigh up to around 25Kg. They have broad heads with muscular necks. Their fur is thick and can vary in colour from a dark chocolate brown to a pale tan, with the chest, chin and cheeks being white or slightly off-white. Their paws have un-webbed fingers and toes which can be seen clearly in the photographs below (of a young orphaned hand-reared cape clawless otter).
Cape Clawless Otters are diurnal (active during the day) but will also hunt on moonlit nights. During hot weather they are generally inactive during the hottest part of the day.
During the night and the hottest part of the day they rest up in their holts (resting places). These are usually sheltered holes under rocks, in reed beds or in dry gullies.
Cape Clawless Otters are very playful and agile, and are excellent swimmers. They often slide down mud banks into the water.
Unlike other African Otter species the Cape Clawless Otter spends a considerable amount of time out of the water and often wanders several kilometres away from the water - particularly when searching for a new habitat.
When in the water, the main predators of Otters are crocodiles. Out of the water, juveniles are vulnerable to snakes or eagles.
Cape Clawless Otters Eat Fish, freshwater crabs, frogs, reptiles, small and medium sized mammals, ducks and the eggs of crocodiles or ground nesting birds. Where farmers keep free range domestic ducks then the otters can become a problem as the ducks are likely to fall prey to the otter. Molluscs such as mussels are also eaten occasionally and the otter smashes these open on rocks.
The Cape Clawless Otter searches by sight for prey in clear water, but it also uses its fingers to feel in the mud to search for prey. The fingers are very dextrous and sensitive, and like humans, they can be left or right handed and this can be seen when the otter feeds. Cape Clawless Otters generally eat fish starting at the head and working their way towards the tail.
One of the common signs that indicate a Cape Clawless Otter lives in an area is the presence of latrine sites where multiple dung deposits can be seen full of crushed crab shells and fish bones.
Cape Clawless Otters have a gestation period of around 60-67 days and usually give birth to 2 or 3 altricial (blind and helpless at birth) young. Once the young are around 1 month old they then start to venture out of the den with their mother.
Cape Clawless Otters are found near permanent water sources - rivers, streams, lakes, marshes, and dams as well as estuaries and coastal waters near mangroves or tall cliffs. As well as the water source they also require areas with suitable cover for them to use as concealment.
Cape Clawless Otters are found in southern and eastern South Africa, Northern Botswana, the Caprivi area of Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and southern parts of West Africa.
© Predator Conservation Trust.
