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Aonyx cinerea (Illiger, 1815)
| Family Name: | Mustelidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Mammal) |
| Common Name: | Oriental Small-clawed Otter |
Name
Description
| Description | Upperparts dark brown or greyish brown, underparts slightly paler. Digits are partially webbed. Claws are short and do not extend beyond the end of the digits. Body relatively long and sleek with short limbs. |
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Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | In Singapore, occurs mainly in mangroves and mudflats in family groups. Active both day and night. Diet includes crabs, and other crustaceans and molluscs. |
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| Habitats | Mangroves, Mudflats, Terrestrial |
| Distribution | In Singapore, presently recorded from the mangrove-fringed western and northern coast of Singapore island from the Western Catchment Area, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Kranji, Pulau Ubin and PulauTekong. Also recorded from the reservoirs within the Central Catchment Nature Reserve but these may be zoo escapees. Distributed from India and south China to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Palawan. |
| Nature Reserves | Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |
| Nature Areas | Pulau Ubin |
Conservation
| Trends & Threats | Habitat loss, human disturbance and persecution. |
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| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | An interesting, although rarely seen, tourist attraction. Sometimes trapped and kept as pets. Some fish farmers may view it as a pest. |
| Conservation Notes | Habitat protection and stringent policing against poaching. The local population may not be strictly resident for individuals can easily travel between either shores of the Johor Straits. |
Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Rare |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Critically Endangered (CR) [2008], Endangered (E) [1994] |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2008. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Ng, P.K.L. & Wee, Y.C. (Eds.). 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book (1st Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 343pp |
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