Fun Congo Clawless Otter Facts For Kids
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The Congo clawless otter, also known as swamp otter, or the Cameroon clawless otter, is a nocturnal, the most terrestrial, and one of the 13 otter species of the carnivore Mustelidae family. It was previously considered a subspecies of the African clawless otter, as they are both very similar and just not just in their appearances.
It has a slender, serpentine body with thick, luxurious fur.
Its body is mostly dark brown, a little pale on the chest and neck, extending to the lower part of the head, and the mouth. Its hair has a silvery tip on the head and the neck is, and there is a black patch between its eyes and nostrils.
It has partially webbed back feet and the front feet are hairless and clawless. It also has very sensitive forepaws, used for foraging.
It is found in central equatorial Africa, in the Congo Basin, southeastern Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, and Burundi.
Poaching, hunting, habitat loss, overfishing, and pet trade are the main threats to this otter species and it is listed as a Near Threatened species under The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
One of the lesser known facts about the congo clawless otter is that the weasels, skunks, and ferrets form a part of its family.
Its diet includes earthworms, freshwater crabs, mollusks, mud dwelling fish, frogs, and eggs. However, animals like pythons, leopards, eagles, and crocodiles prey on it.
The average lifespan of the Congo clawless otter is 10-15 years.
It prefers to be alone and forms short-lived monogamous pairs during the breeding season. A baby Congo clawless otter is known as a pup or a whelp.
For more relatable content, check out these river otter facts and European otter facts for kids.
Congo Clawless Otter Interesting Facts
What type of animal is a Congo clawless otter?
The Congo clawless otter, also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, is one of the 13 otter species of the Mustelidae family.
What class of animal does a Congo clawless otter belong to?
The Congo clawless otter belongs to the class Mammalia.
How many Congo clawless otters are there in the world?
The number of these otters has not been recorded yet but they are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1973.
Where does a Congo clawless otter live?
These otters are found in central equatorial Africa, in the Congo Basin, southeastern Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, and Burundi.
What is a Congo clawless otter's habitat?
The Congo clawless otter (aonyx congicus) is the most terrestrial otter species, and is found in the marshes, mountain streams, forests, wetlands, lowland swamps, rocky shores, sandy shores, water storage areas, and shallow margins of lakes.
Who do Congo clawless otters live with?
The Cameroon clawless otter prefer to live alone, except for the breeding season.
How long does a Congo clawless otter live?
The average lifespan of these otters is 10 - 15 years. However, the highest record provided for the lifespan of the Congo clawless otter is 16 years.
How do they reproduce?
Little to no information is provided for the reproduction of these otter species, their breeding season is throughout the year, and the gestation period is two months. These otters experience short-lived monogamy and then return to their solitary lifestyle.
Their average litter size is two to three and their young species do not reach sexual maturity until they are one year old.
What is their conservation status?
The conservation status of the Congo clawless otter (aonyx congicus) is listed as a Near Threatened species under The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
Congo Clawless Otter Fun Facts
What do Congo clawless otters look like?
The Congo Clawless otter is very large and its body is mostly dark brown, a little pale on the chest and neck, extending to the lower part of the head, and the mouth. Its hair has a silvery tip on the head and the neck is, and there is a black patch between its eyes and nostrils.
It has partially webbed back feet and the front feet are hairless and clawless.
*Please note that this is an image of a otter, not a Congo clawless otter specifically. If you have an image of a Congo clawless otter, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
How cute are they?
Yes, these otters are quite adorable to watch and are generally considered to be cute.
How do they communicate?
There has been no specific form of communication documented but the Congo clawless otter (aonyx congicus) uses various forms of vocalization like the chirps, squeals, purring noises, growls, snarls, and a screaming wail.
How big is a Congo clawless otter?
The head and body length of these otters is 24–39 in (600-1,000 mm), and the length of its tail is 16-28 in (400-710 mm).
How fast can a Congo clawless otter swim?
An otter can swim as fast as 6-7 mph (9-11 kph) and dive up to 60 feet deep. However, there is no specific information provided for a these otters.
How much does a Congo clawless otter weigh?
The average weight of these otters is 31-75 lb (14-34 kg).
What are the male and female names of the species?
There are no sex-specific names given to the Congo clawless otter species. They are simply referred to as the male Congo clawless otter and the female Congo clawless otter.
What would you call a baby Congo clawless otter ?
Baby Congo clawless otter is known as a pup or whelp.
What do they eat?
These species are carnivores and their diet includes earthworms, freshwater crabs, mud dwelling fish, frogs, and eggs.
Are they dangerous?
Yes, the Congo clawless otter (aonyx congicus) is a wild animal and extremely dangerous and can easily harm you.
Would they make a good pet?
No, they will not be happy if kept in captivity as they like to live in their natural habitat. When kept as pets, they feel isolated and alone. Their food requirements and the kind of space that they need to be able to swim and run around makes it almost impossible to keep them as a pet.
Did you know...
The Congo clawless otter (aonyx congicus) is very dextrous and uses the digits on front paws like fingers to extract snails from its shell.
Why is the Congo clawless otter endangered?
It is one of the least known otter species and is hunted for the bush meat and skins. Other reasons include habitat loss and degradation, reduced fish stocks because of the over-fishing, and pollution. It is also more vulnerable to the snares set on the land, because it is very terrestrial.
Compare Congo clawless otter with African otter
The clawless otter (aonyx congicus) was previously considered a subspecies of the African clawless otter, as they are both very similar and just not just in their appearances. They both have partly webbed and clawless feet and thick, luxurious fur. They also have the same mating system and solitary lifestyle.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these Indian elephant facts and African bush elephant facts pages.
You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable congo clawless otter coloring pages.
*Please note that the main image is of an otter, not a Congo clawless otter specifically. If you have an image of a Congo clawless otter, please let us know at hello@kidadl.com.
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As a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and energetic individual, Olaleye's expertise lies in administrative and management operations. With extensive knowledge as an Editor and Communications Analyst, Olaleye excels in editing, writing, and media relations. Her commitment to upholding professional ethics and driving organizational growth sets her apart. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Benin, Edo State.
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