Asian Short-clawed Otter

Asian Short-clawed Otter [Oriental Small-clawed Otter]
Memerang Kecil in Malay

Aonyx cinerea

About me
Hi everyone! My name is Chinta, while my friends are called Manja and Olly. We are a fun-loving trio who love to create mischief and chaos in our home here at Aquaria KLCC. Unfortunately, our natural habitat in the wilds of Asia is becoming increasingly destroyed by humans due to industrialization and pollution. Not only that, but people hunt us for our fur even though we are a protected species! This is why we love our home here at Aquaria KLCC, as we have a luxurious home with crystal-clear water that we can swim and play all day!

Interesting Facts about me
Our young are called pups and are born toothless and blind, in litters of up to six. There are 13 species of otter in the world of which we are the smallest. We are extremely good swimmers, and have many features which enable us to swim well. These include good eyesight, waterproof fur and webbed toes. Manja, Olly and I are always competing with one another on how long we can stay underwater. So far, Manja holds the record for holding her breath for up to 8 minutes! We are a very social otter species and can be found in groups of up to fifteen members. You may see myself, Manja and Olly playing together and grooming each other, which we love to do.

Where can you find me in Aquaria?
You can find me at the Stream.

Size & Weight
I'm currently 5kg, which is the maximum size for Asian Short-clawed Otter.

Diet
My favourite meal would include freshwater fish, crustaceans, invertebrates and small mammals.

Habitat & Range
I live in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands around Asia: including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and southern China.