Aonyx

Zwergotter

The fingers Otter ( Aonyx ) are a living in Africa and Asia predator species of the subfamily of the Otter ( Lutrinae ) within the marten family ( Mustelidae ). The genus includes three species.

General

Named giving feature of the finger otters are the front feet, where the claws are strong back- formed or absent which resemble human fingernails. This impression is reinforced by the reformed webbed and by the relatively large mobility of the individual toes. The fur of these animals is brownish in color, the underside is lighter; on the face, throat and chest may be present white patches. Like all otters have an elongated body with short legs and a muscular tail. Finger Otter reach a body length of 60 to 100 centimeters, a tail length of 40-71 cm and a weight of 13 to 34 kg, are so much heavier than the small-clawed otter, or even the European otter.

Finger Otters are mainly crepuscular or nocturnal, go in by people untouched regions but also during the day in search of food. Due to its back formed claws are not they digging their own burrows, but retire to rest under logs or in dense vegetation. Although they tend to live solitary, the coalfields of several animals can but overlap entirely and sometimes these animals defend the territorial boundaries together or go together in search of food.

After an approximately 63 - day gestation, the female gives birth to two or three pups, which stay with their mother for about a year.

System

Within the fingers Otter two types are distinguished:

• The Kapotter ( Aonyx capensis ) is native to the south of the Sahara in many parts of Africa, its range extends from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. It inhabits a range of habitats, including rain forests, coastal regions and even semi-deserts, but is always found in the vicinity of water. He preferred lakes and muddy rivers, but also occurs in brackish water area and along the sea coasts. In their search for food he does not, unlike other otters prey on the mouth, but with his front paws. Its hard, broad cheek teeth indicate that he mainly lives of mollusks and crustaceans. He is one of the more common species of otters and not threatened. The small claws or Congo - finger Otter ( Aonyx capensis congicus ), a subspecies of Kapotters is limited to the central Africa, its range extends from southeastern Nigeria to Uganda. Its habitat is wetlands and small streams in the tropical rain forest. His teeth are sharper and sharper than that of the Kapotters, he probably eats a greater extent of small vertebrates and eggs. Of his life little is known.

• The small-clawed otter ( Aonyx cinerea), sometimes referred to as small-clawed otter, is a common prey species in Southeast Asia. He was lodged more than Amblonyx cinerea in a separate genus.

Threats and conservation

All three species of the genus finger Otter led by the World Conservation Union IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The Kapotter and small claws or Congo - finger otters are seen as not threatened (Least Concern ); the small-clawed otter is evaluated as vulnerable ( Vulnerable ).

The Otter Otter genus finger is placed in various stages under protection. In the CITES Convention CITES only the populations of Cameroon and Nigeria to the subspecies Aonyx capensis microdon be out in Appendix I. They are so occupied as at immediate risk stocks with a trading ban. All other populations as well as all species of the family Lutrinae are included in Appendix II. For them, a limited trade apply.

Similarly, and with the same consequence, the European Union lists the finger Otter in Annex A and B of the EU Wildlife Trade Regulation ( EC) No 338/ 97 and the amendment made by EC Regulation 407 /2009.

This is also reflected in the Federal Nature Conservation Law of the Federal Republic of Germany. Here the subspecies Aonyx capensis microdon is referred to as strictly protected, all other species are reported to be particularly protected.