Asian Small-Clawed Otter

Aonyx cinereus

### Regions

India, Bangladesh, China, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Brunei

## Habitat

### Water Area

210 m² +30 m²/ea. add'l
84 m² +12 m²/ea. add'l

### Temperature

0 m²
17‒42 ℃

## Social

### Fem. Bachelor

2‒16
2‒16
2‒6

### Sterility

2 years
Death

### Interbirth

2 months
12 months

## Taxonomy

### Order

Mammalia
Carnivora

### Genus

Mustelidae
Aonyx

The **Asian Small-Clawed Otter** (*Aonyx cinereus*) is a small Asian mustelid featured in the Wetlands Animal Pack DLC for *Planet Zoo*.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

**Population In Wild:** 5,000

Native to the rivers and streams of Central and Southeast Asia, the Asian small-clawed otter (or Aonyx Cinereus) is the smallest otter species in the world. Its sleek body is covered in brown fur with a white belly and throat. Asian small-clawed otters grow between 72cm and 96cm in total body length and weigh between 2.7kg and 5.4kg. There are no notable physical differences between females and males of this species

The Asian small-clawed otter is considered a vulnerable species and as such is protected in most countries of its native range. Like many threatened species, they suffer from habitat loss and poaching. There are several captive breeding programs in place which facilitate conservation and research on this species.

### Social

Asian small-clawed otters are very social and intelligent animals, living in family groups of around 15 members. These groups are led by a dominant mated pair and their offspring across various litters. Family groups break apart if they become too large or one of the leaders dies - in this case, family members will leave and attempt to form new breeding groups with other unrelated individuals

### Reproduction

When a dominant female is in oestrus, she and the dominant male spend bonding time playing and nuzzling. The pair mates several times over the female's fertile period

Pregnancies in Asian small-clawed otters last for a period of 68 to 74 days after which the female gives birth to a litter of between 1 and 6 pups, with an average litter size of 2. The pups are born blind and open their eyes after 1 to 1.5 months after birth, which is also when they will begin moving around independently. They will usually leave the den and have their first swim at around 2 months old. Weaning begins at 4 months old, though pups may already begin consuming solid food 1 to 2 months prior, and is usually complete by 8 months old.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Block of Frozen Fish · Underwater Fish Feeder
Block of Ice · Bubble Machine · Cardboard Box · Gift Box · Mud Bath · Platform Floats · Rubber Duck · Small Ball Colourful · Small Ball · Small Bubble Machine · Small Ice Ball · Submarine Buoy

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Facts

* Asian small-clawed otters are monogamous and mate for life
* The Asian small-clawed otter can close its ears and nostrils when swimming
* Despite living in groups, Asian small-clawed otters generally hunt for themselves
* The Asian small-clawed otter is extremely dexterous in comparison with other otter species due to its short claws and incomplete webbing between its toes
* Grooming is extremely important for Asian small-clawed otters as it traps air between the hair follicles, keeping otters insulated and dry while swimming

## Gallery

The first teaser of the Asian Small-Clawed Otter when it was first announced.