Asian Small-Clawed Otter

Asian small-clawed otters are the smallest of all 13 otter species and are native to Asia. Well adapted to life in the water, these social, intelligent animals spend a majority of their time on land. Asian small-clawed otters have dark brown fur on their back and lighter fur on their front, along with webbed feet and small claws. Although they live in groups, they hunt by themselves.

They are vocal, with at least a dozen sounds used to communicate with others. They also have two scent glands at the base of the tail to mark territory and pass on information such as their sex.

They forage with their sensitive paws to locate prey in murky water or mud. They also have stiff whiskers called “vibrissae” that can detect the movement of prey in the water. They catch prey with their paws not with their mouth like other otters.