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  • Asian Small-clawed Otter
Mammals

Asian Small-clawed Otter

Scientific Name

Aonyx cinereus

Other Common Name(s)

Oriental Small-clawed Otter, Small-clawed Otter, Clawless Otter

Body Weight

Up to 5 kg

Body Length

Head and body: up to 65 cm
Tail: 24.6-30.4 cm

Silhouette of an otter next to a human for size comparison.
Wet otter with white whiskers standing on rocks, looking forward.

Habitat

Streams, ponds, marshes, and other wetland environments
River flowing through mountains
Blue pond with green grass and orange cattails.

Diet

Fish, insects, crabs, clams, and freshwater snails
Fish, scallop, squid, and shrimp.
A tarantula, a ladybug, and a centipede.

Fun Facts

  • Asian small-clawed otters are monogamous. They live with their extended family and form groups of about 12 members.

  • Asian small-clawed otters forage by using their front paws to dig in mud and search under stones. They not only crush open shells with their strong and sharp teeth, but may even leave them heating under the sun to ‘cook’ and open by themselves.

Two wet otters looking forward, one in front of the other.
Otter swimming underwater, holding ice with its front paws.

Distribution

Southeast Asia, including countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and China

Threats & Conservation

Threats & Conservation

Threats

  • Stylized city buildings on a roadStylized city buildings on a road

    Urbanisation & Infrastructure

  • An axe and a hexagonal grid with red dotsAn axe and a hexagonal grid with red dots

    Overexploitation of Biological Resources

  • Forest fire with trees in the background.Forest fire with trees in the background.

    Human Disturbance & Ecosystem Disruption

  • Factory with smokestack emitting smokeFactory with smokestack emitting smoke

    Pollution

  • Earth globe next to a thermometer showing high temperature.Earth globe next to a thermometer showing high temperature.

    Climate Change

Asian small-clawed otters are threatened by habitat destruction through human development, including reclamation of wetlands, aquaculture and agriculture. Pollutants such as pesticides are carried in runoff to the habitats. Deforestation has additionally caused excess soil to silt rivers. The availability of the otters’ food also faces competition from humans.

Conservation

IUCN Red List banner with 'Vulnerable' highlighted, showing conservation statuses EW, CR, EN, VU, NT, LC, DD.
CITES logo and text 'Appendix I'

IUCN Red List

  • Vulnerable

Red List of China's Biodiversity

  • Critically Endangered

CITES

  • Appendix I

Conservation Regulations​

  • Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law: Category 2

  • Protected under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 586) in Hong Kong

Ocean Park's Conservation Efforts

The Park provides a suitable environment for this threatened species to breed, and also provides care for the Asian small-clawed otters confiscated by the Hong Kong government from illegal pet trade.

Animal Breeding in Ocean Park

Learn More
Adult otter looking forward, with several grey pups nestled in a straw bed.

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Two otters looking up behind an ice cake that says "HAPPY BIRTHDAY".

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Ocean Park Corporation is a charitable institution registered with Inland Revenue Department, Hong Kong (File No: 91/2801).

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