Asian small-clawed otter

Asian Small-clawed Otter

The Asian small-clawed otter is a tiny, friendly animal that lives in Southeast Asia. It is the smallest otter in the world! These otters have short claws that do not stick out past their paws. They are about as long as a big book and weigh about as much as a small backpack.

These otters love to play in freshwater places like rivers, swamps, and rice fields. They also live near the coast in mangrove forests. They eat tasty things like molluscs, crabs, and small aquatic animals.

Asian small-clawed otters are very social. They live in pairs or in family groups. Sometimes, up to 12 of them stay together! They talk to each other with happy sounds and calls.

People know about these otters because they are special and need our help. Their homes are sometimes lost when people build farms or buildings. That is why many people work hard to protect them and their homes. You can see them in some zoos, where they swim and play with other animals like the Indian rhinoceros.