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African clawless otter

Aonyx capensis

Photo by loarie
Published on Project Noah
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-23.2683, 30.9906

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (18)
loarie
great - I did my PhD there and usually go to the Savannah Science meeting each year
Kei Heyns
Ok, well id like to think it was a cape clawless, its an excellent sign to see them in a river system. How was your Kruger experience?
loarie
I don't know, maybe 50 m? The hill just before the Sabie bridge on the non Skukuza side
Kei Heyns
Yes that link is an action shot, might explain your spotting, but its tail is not tapered, or maybe its just the angle. how close did you get to this specimen?
Kei Heyns
haha, a four footed otter!!! the toes rather, they look almost primate-like, something that distinguishes cape clawless from other Mustelidae. Anyway, it is unusual for the tail to be held like that.
loarie
Check this for comparison http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zxnmCSWpaVg/TCogQdQxLoI/AAAAAAAAAgY/n3hF50cRd3Q/s1600/Groototter.jpg
loarie
I noticed it had 4 of them! Picture doesn't really do it justice, you had to see it in action, it was circled round the road in a classic otter bound with its back arching and tail following through then dove into the water and swam off. I guess from the picture you could imagine its a civet or something, but there is absolutely no doubt in my mind from the sighting that it was a cape clawless otter
Kei Heyns
i can see its size is about right, but the tail is getting to me. Did you notice any features, such as its feet?
loarie
I am - it was definitely an otter and much to big for a spot necked otter http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identotron?observation_id=13124#q=&place=7478&taxon=41770 - it went right into the river after this shot was taken!
Kei Heyns
Are you sure this is a cape clawless otter? the tail is usually much thicker and is not held up.
kerrydonovanbrown
It's a fantastic composition, and I there's something a little creepy about it. I love it.
The MnMs
Hi loarie, Don´t feel attacked. I think is nice that you saw an animal that is normally difficult to spot. I was wondering if you could make a crop of the picture so that the silhouete of the animal can be discerned a bit better because at the current magnification is so far away that it could be an otter or anything else, is difficult for others to tell..
loarie
Well for the record, I think this is a sweet sighting, so if you guys don't like it you'll have to deal
Christiane
Hi Loarie.. This is not a competition.. and the photo is not very clear. I would not be able to ID an otter from this photo. Your other photos are really good. :)
loarie
Hi atul, sort of a ridiculous comment - let's see your picture of a otter from Kruger we'll see who's is better!
Atul
hi loarie, the Otter picture you have uploaded is not very clear as it is taken from a distance . Could you please upload better pictures of the animal for everyone to appreciate . Thanks in advance!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 8, 2012

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