Native Animals
Aonyx cinereus
Asian Small-clawed Otter
VU
Vulnerable
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2021
Taxonomy
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Specific Epithetcinereus (Illiger, 1815)
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Synonym
- Amblonyx cinereus (Illiger, 1815)
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Common Name
- Asian Small-clawed Otter (English)
- Memerang Kecil (Malay)
- Oriental Small-clawed Otter (English)
- Small-clawed Otter (English)
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ResidentialNative
The taxonomic status is pending for approval
Description
The small-clawed otter, Aonyx cinereus is the smallest otter in the world, measuring about 0.9 m in length and weighing around 5 kg. Its upperparts fur is brown in colour, while the underparts are paler brown. In general, the upper lip’s edge, chin, throat, sides of neck and face are greyish-white. Despite their small size, they are very sociable as they live in family groups of about 12 individuals.
The small-clawed otter can be found from India in South Asia eastwards through South-east Asia to Palawan, Philippines (IUCN, 2017). It occurs in shallow waters, tropical coastal wetlands and mountain streams, feeding predominantly on crabs and molluscs.
This species is mainly threatened by habitat destruction and illegal trade, similar to smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) and common otter (Lutra lutra). It is listed as insufficiently known in 1988 and has been uplisted to vulnerable within only 20 years. Therefore, conservation efforts like the expansion of protected area and policy making must be done to protect this species.
Habits
| No | Part | Habit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Carnivore — The eating of animals
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Habitats
| No | Description | Suitability | Seasonality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Forest → Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland Forest
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Suitable | Resident |
| 2 |
Forest → Subtropical/Tropical Swamp Forest
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Suitable | Resident |
References : http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes/habitats-classification-scheme-ver3
Assessment
| Year Published | Assessment | Red List Category | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 2015 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 2008 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Vulnerable (VU)
|
3.1 |
| 2004 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Near Threatened (NT)
|
N/A |
| 1996 | IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |
Near Threatened (NT)
|
N/A |
Specimen
| Collection Center | Dried | Live | Slide | Wet | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | ||||||
| 6 |
Biodiversity Experts
| Profile | |
|---|---|
|
Amal Ghazali Nasron (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals, Insects,
Biodiversity, Conservation & Forest
|
|
Amy Then Yee Hui (Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Fishes (Ecology), Seahorses (Ecology), Mammals (Ecology),
Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Andrew Alek Tuen (Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
|
Mammals, Birds,
Protected Areas
|
|
Badrul Munir Md Zain (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
|
Mammals (Taxonomy),
|
|
Chong Ju Lian (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals (Ecology), Vascular (Ecology),
Invasive Alien Species, Protected Areas, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Marine & Coastal & Climate Change
|
|
David Magintan (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals, Elephants,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Environment & Protected Areas
|
|
Faisal Ali Anwarali Khan (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
|
Mammals, Bats,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Evolution, Forest & Molecular
|
|
Farah Shafawati Mohd Taib (Dr.)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)
|
Birds, Mammals, Rodents, Treeshrews, Squirrels,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Ecosystems & Taxonomy
|
|
Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Genetics & Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
|
|
Jeffrine Rovie Ryan Japning (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Monkeys, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Data Analysis, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas, Science & Technology
|
|
Kayal Vizi Karuppannan (Mrs.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Elephants, Fishes, Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Evolution, Genetics, Molecular, Protected Areas & Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
|
|
Midhat Nabil Ahmad Salimi (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Data Analysis, Ecosystems, Education, Environment, Genetics, History, Management, Medical, Molecular, Science, Technology, Water, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Living Modified Organism (LMO), Synthetic Biology, Protected Areas, Marine & Coastal & Invasive Alien Species
|
|
Mohammad Shahfiz Azman (Mr.)
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)
|
Amphibians, Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles,
Awareness, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Environment, Forest, Landscape, Law and Policy, Management, Protected Areas, Science, Systematics, Invasive Alien Species, Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC), National Policy on Biological Diversity, Policy, Research and Development (R&D) & Zoonotic
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Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah (Prof. Dato' Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems, Evolution, Genetics & Protected Areas
|
|
Nasharuddin Bin Othman (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Conservation, Management & Protected Areas
|
|
Rahimatsah Amat (Dr.)
Sabah Environmental Trust (SET)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Environment, Management & Protected Areas
|
|
Rahmat Topani (Mr.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Conservation, Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
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Rosli Hashim (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Birds (Ecology), Mammals (Ecology), Spiders, Insects,
Biodiversity & Protected Areas
|
|
Rosli Ramli (Assoc. Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
|
Mammals (Ecology), Birds,
Biodiversity, Digital Sequence Information (DSI), Protected Areas & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Saifullah A. Jaaman @ Sharman (Assoc. Prof.)
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT)
|
Mammals,
Biodiversity, Conservation & Marine & Coastal
|
|
Tan Cheng Cheng (Ms.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Mammals (Ecology),
Protected Areas, Biodiversity & Conservation
|
|
Tan Poai Ean (Ms.)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN)
|
Bats, Mammals, Rodents,
Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystems & Management
|
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;
References
Article
- Hedges, L., Clements, G.R., Aziz, S.A., Yap, W.L., Laurance, S., Goosem, M. & Laurance, W.F. (2013). Small carnivore records from a threatened habitat linkage in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. Small Carnivore Conservation 49, 9-14
- Aihara, Y., Hosaka, T., Yasuda, M., Hashim, M. & Numata, S. (2016). Mammalian Wildlife Tourism in South-East Asian Tropical Rainforests: The Case of Endau Rompin National Park, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Forest Science 28 (2), 167-181
- Polgar, G. (2012). Ecology and Evolution of Mudskippers and Oxudercine Gobies (Gobiidae:Oxudercinae): Perspectives and Possible Research Directions. , 117-137
- Sivasothi, N. & Burhanuddin, M.N. (1994). A review of otters (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Lutrinae) in Malaysia and Singapore. Hydrobiologia 285 (1), 151-170
- Suis, M.A.F., Miun, J., Tingkoi, L. & Nilus, R. (2019). Inventory of terrestrial mammals and birds in Sungai Pin Conservation Area, Kinabatangan. Sepilok Bulletin. 28, 49-68. http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/docs/frc/Sepilok%20Bulletin%20Vol%2028%20(2019).pdf
Book
- The Network of Protected Forests in Telupid, Sabah: Biodiversity & Conservation in the Heart of Borneo, 2014. Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah, Malaysia. pp. 155.
- Beastall, C.A. & Chng, S.C.L. (2021). Identification of Commonly Traded Wildlife in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Hazebroek, H.P., Adlin, T.Z. & Sinun, W. (2011). Danum Valley: The Rain Forest. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Malaysia. pp. 615.
- Khan, M.M. (1992). Mamalia Semenanjung Malaysia. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN), Malaysia. pp. 182.
- Maimon, A. (2008). Biodiversity of Sungai Pulai: Ramsar Site, Johor. Earth Observation Centre, Malaysia. pp. 97.
- Mohammad Khairi, A (2007). Taman Negara Pulau Pinang: Sinar Mutiara Belantara. Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara, Malaysia. pp. 112.
- Payne, J. & Francis, C.M. (1985). A Field Guide to the Mammals of Borneo. The Sabah Society, Malaysia. pp. 326.
- Phillipps, Q. & Phillipps, K. (2016). Phillipps’ Guide to the Mammals of Borneo and their Ecology: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. pp. 400.
- Shaharuddin, M.I., Azahar, M., Razani, U., Kamaruzaman, A.B., Lim, K.L., Suhaili, R., Jalil, M.S. & Latiff, A. (2005). Sustainable Management of Matang Mangroves: 100 Years and Beyond. Jabatan Perhutanan Semenanjung Malaysia, Malaysia. pp. 531.
- Tan, P.E., Norazlinda, A.R., Nosrat, R. & Saaban, S. (2015). Field Guides - Identification Key for Non-Volant Terrestrial Mammals of Peninsular Malaysia. Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Peninsular Malaysia. pp. 56.
Chapter in book
- Davison, G.W.H. & Akbar, Z. (2007). The Status of Mammalian Biodiversity in Malaysia. In Chua, L.S.L., Kirton, L.G. & Saw, L.G. (Eds.), Status of Biological Diversity in Malaysia and Threat Assessment of Plant Species in Malaysia: Proceedings of the Seminar and Workshop, 28-30 June 2005. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). pp. 3-27.
Journal
- Malayan Nature Journal, Volume 73, Issue 3, p. 419, 2021
Legislation
- Akta Pemuliharaan Hidupan Liar 2010 (2010) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Akta Perdagangan Antarabangsa Mengenai Species Terancam 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008 (2008) — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Wildlife Conservation Act (2010). Laws of Malaysia Act 716 — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Magazine/Bulletin
- Malaysian Naturalist, Vol. 72 (2), 2/2019. Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)
- TRAFFIC Bulletin, Vol. 30 (2), 10/2018. TRAFFIC, UK — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Report
- Gomez, L. & Bouhuys, J. (2018). Illegal otter trade in Southeast Asia. TRAFFIC, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Krishnasamy, K. & Zavagli, M. (2020). Southeast Asia: At the heart of wildlife trade. TRAFFIC, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
- Schoppe, S. (2008). Science in CITES: The biology and ecology of the Southeast Asian Box Turtle and its uses and trade in Malaysia. TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. — [ Adobe PDF (PDF) ]
Short-note
- The Hairy-nosed Otter in Peninsular Malaysia. IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin, Vol. 11, 1995
Publications
Related by Genus
Acknowledgements :- Mr. Abdul Razak Mohd Nor Rasid, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Ms. Ajla Rafidah Baharom, Ms. Amirah Hasanah Binti Mazlan, Mrs. Aziemah Binti Kinan, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Mr. Mohd Zulfadli Bin Mohd Arshad, Dr. Muhammad Farhan Bin Abd Wahab, Ms. Noor Amira Aini Binti Noor Anwar, Mrs. Noraina Bt Ab Majid, Ms. Noraini Binti Osman, Ms. Norayuni Binti Ramlee, Mrs. Nur Hazwanie Binti Abd Halim, Ms. Nurfadzilah Bt Azmi, Ms. Nurfarhana Hizan Binti Hijas, Mr. Tan Kok Kiat, Ms. Umairah Binti Ishak & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin
Photo credit :- Mohammad Shahfiz Azman
Species Citation :- Aonyx cinereus. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/19867. [Retrieved 25 March 2023].
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