African Clawless Otter
Aonyx capensis
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderCarnivora (Carnivorans)
- FamilyMustelidae (Mustelids)
- GenusAonyx
- SpeciesAonyx capensis (African Clawless Otter)
About the African Clawless Otter
The African clawless otter (Lutra capensis), also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterised by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derived. The word 'aonyx' means clawless, derived from the prefix a- ("without") and onyx ("claw/hoof").
Aonyx capensis is a member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and of the order Carnivora. The earliest known species of otter, Potamotherium valetoni, occurred in the upper Oligocene of Europe: A. capensis first appears in the fossil record during the Pleistocene. Aonyx is closely related to the extinct giant Sardinian otter, Megalenhydris.
Mammal Species of the World lists six subspecies of the African clawless otter: A. c. capensis (Schinz, 1821) A. c. hindei (Thomas, 1905) A. c. meneleki (Thomas, 1903) A. c. microdon (Pohle, 1920) A. c. philippsi (Hinton, 1921)
Until recently the Congo clawless otter was considered a subspecies as well, but recent authorities treat it as a separate species A. congicus. Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of African Clawless Otter in Garden Route National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Garden Route National Park
Honey Badger
Mellivora capensis
Afro-Australian Fur Seal
Arctocephalus pusillus
Cape Genet
Genetta tigrina
Cape Gray Mongoose
Galerella pulverulenta
Southern Elephant Seal
Mirounga leonina
Caracal
Caracal caracal
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Egyptian Mongoose
Herpestes ichneumon
Marsh Mongoose
Atilax paludinosus
Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
Antarctic Fur Seal
Arctocephalus gazella
African Wildcat
Felis lybica
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 5 | Niokolo-Koba National Park | 🇸🇳 Senegal | |
| 6 | Golden Gate Highlands National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 7 | South Luangwa National Park | 🇿🇲 Zambia | |
| 8 | Moremi Game Reserve | 🇧🇼 Botswana |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a African Clawless Otter in Garden Route National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a African Clawless Otter sighting in Garden Route National Park, based on 42 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see African Clawless Otter in Garden Route National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for African Clawless Otter in Garden Route National Park in our monthly data.