Cape Clawless Otter

On the alert, a Cape Clawless Otter checking out its surroundings before it slips back into the water.

Cape Clawless Otters are one of 4 otter species that inhabit both fresh and marine water ecosystems. Their front feet are adapted for digging and therefore don’t have claws (giving them their name) while their hind feet are partly webbed with 3 claws on each feet.

Despite being fairly widely distributed, they particularly elusive, and it is always a treat to spot one and observe their playful nature, whether you’re out on a kayak in Table Bay or hiking along the Otter Trail of the Garden Route.

Aonyx capensis

Original artwork: sold