Capotter

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Capotter
Aonyx capensis, male, Shamvura.jpg

Cape Otter ( Aonyx capensis )

Systematics
Subordination : Canine (Caniformia)
Superfamily : Marten relatives (Musteloidea)
Family : Marten (Mustelidae)
Subfamily : Otter (Lutrinae)
Genre : Finger otter ( aonyx )
Type : Capotter
Scientific name
Aonyx capensis
( Schinz , 1821)

The capotter ( Aonyx capensis ) is a species of predator from the subfamily of otters (Lutrinae) that is widespread in southern Africa .

features

The capotter is the third largest otter in the world after the giant otter ( Pteronura brasiliensis ) and the sea ​​otter ( Enhydra lutris ). The females are slightly smaller than the males. The body reaches an average head-trunk length of 83 centimeters for the males and 73 centimeters for the females, the tail of the males is about 48 to 50 centimeters long. The body is stocky and the tail blunted. The body color is brown, the lower half of the face with the upper lips and the sides of the face, the neck, the throat and the belly are colored white. There are white sensory hairs (vibrissae) on the upper and lower jaw, the eyes and ears are small.

distribution and habitat

Distribution area of ​​the capotter

The capotter is the most widespread species of otter in Africa with a large distribution area south of the Sahara . It extends from Senegal and Mali over most of West Africa to Sudan and Ethiopia and from here south to the Western Cape in South Africa . The nominate form is absent in the Congo basin, in which the Congo finger otter ( Aonyx capensis congicus ) lives.

supporting documents

  1. ^ Serge Larivière: Aonyx capensis . In: Mammalian Species . tape 671 , 2001, p. 1–6 ( full text (PDF; 214 kB)).
  2. ↑ Aonyx capensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008 Posted by: M. Hoffmann, 2008. Accessed December 28, 2011th

literature

  • Ronald M. Nowak: Walker's Mammals of the World . Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
  • Serge Larivière: Aonyx capensis . In: Mammalian Species . tape 671 , 2001, p. 1–6 ( full text (PDF; 214 kB)).

Web links

Commons : Kapotter  - collection of images, videos and audio files