Why is it called the small-clawed otter?

Its claws are much smaller and blunter than those of other otter species, barely projecting past the fleshy pads of its toes—a distinctive trait reflected in both its English and Japanese names.

Is the small-clawed otter endangered?

It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with numbers estimated to have declined around 30% over the past three decades, and it was moved to CITES Appendix I in 2019 to ban international commercial trade.

Why is the pet trade a problem for this species?

Social-media popularity in Japan and elsewhere has driven strong demand for pet otters since the late 2010s, and a large share of otters smuggled out of Southeast Asia have reportedly been destined for the Japanese market, putting additional pressure on wild populations.

Asian Small-clawed Otterコツメカワウソ

Aonyx cinereusVU— Vulnerable

The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, native to wetlands and mangroves across South and Southeast Asia. Highly social and vocal, it typically lives in family groups of up to a dozen or more individuals and feeds mainly on crabs and other small aquatic prey. It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN and has been listed on CITES Appendix I since 2019, reflecting mounting pressure from habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.

Asian Small-clawed Otter (reference photo) — Photo: Animalculum / CC BY 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Carnivora / Mustelidae Source
Size: Head-body length 41–64 cm, tail 25–35 cm
Weight: 2.7–5.4 kg
Lifespan: Up to about 15 years in captivity
Diet: Carnivore Feeds mainly on crustaceans, along with mollusks, insects, fish, and reptiles
Activity: Diurnal; highly social, living in family groups
Distribution: Found across South and Southeast Asia—including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines—in wetlands, mangroves, and rice paddies. Source
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

Did You Know?

It is the smallest of the world's otter species, and its tiny, blunt claws—which barely extend past the fleshy pads of its digits—give the species its English and Japanese names. Source
Highly social, small-clawed otters live in groups of up to 15 individuals and communicate using at least 12 distinct types of vocalizations. Source
Since the late 2010s, social-media-driven pet demand has fueled a surge in smuggling; one estimate found that around 70% of otter smuggling cases intercepted in Southeast Asia were destined for Japan, making illegal trade a serious conservation threat behind the species' popularity. Source

Where to See This Species

Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 27

Asian Small-clawed Otterコツメカワウソ

Species Data

Did You Know?

Where to See This Species

Sunshine AquariumTokyoFrom Ikebukuro Station (Exit 35), walk along Sunshine 60 Street.

SHINAGAWA AQUARIUMTokyoOpened in 1991

TOBU ZOOSaitamaFrom Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen Station (west exit), about 10 minutes on foot (600 m) or about 5 minutes by bus.

Toba AquariumMieOpened in 1955

Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990

Maxell Aqua Park ShinagawaTokyoAbout a 2-minute walk from the Takanawa exit of Shinagawa Station (Shinkansen, JR, and Keikyu lines).

Adventure WorldWakayamaOpened in 1978

Saitama SuizokukanSaitamaAbout 15 minutes (about 7 km) by taxi from Hanyu Station or Kazo Station on the Tobu Isesaki Line.

Tokushima ZooTokushima

NOTOJIMA AQUARIUMIshikawaThe nearest station is Wakura-Onsen Station.

Echizen Matsushima AquariumFukuiOpened in 1959

Miyajima Public AquariumHiroshimaOpened in 2011

Katsurahama AquariumKochiOpened in 1931

Noichi Zoological Park of Kochi PrefectureKochiA 20-minute walk or 13-minute rental-bicycle ride from Noichi Station on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Gomen-Nahari Line.

Saitamakenkodomodoubutsu Shizen KouenSaitamaOpened in 1980

Sapporoshimaruyama DoubutsuenHokkaidoOpened in 1951

Ichikawashi DoushokubutsuenChibaAddress: 284-1 Omachi, Ichikawa, Chiba.

Hirakawa ZooKagoshimaAbout a 20-minute walk from Goino Station on the JR Ibusuki-Makurazaki Line, or take a bus bound for Taniyama / Dobutsuen from Fukuhira Nokyo-mae to the last stop.

Shuunanshitokuyama DoubutsuenYamaguchiOpened in 1960

Otaru AquariumHokkaidoOpened in 1958

Shinsapporosanpiaza SuizokukanHokkaidoAbout a 5-minute walk from Shin-Sapporo Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Tozai Line, or about a 3-minute walk from Shin-Sapporo Station on the JR Chitose Line.

Chiba Zoological ParkChibaOpened in 1985

Nagasaki Bio ParkNagasakiOpened in 1980

Naganoshichausuyama DoubutsuenNaganoThe nearest station is JR Shinonoi Station.

Hamamatsu Zoological GardensShizuokaOpened in 1950

Fukuoka Zoo & Botanical GardenFukuokaOpened in 1953

Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensAichiOpened in 1937

Former facilities

North Safari SapporoHokkaidoOpened in 2005

Keikyuuaburatsubomarin ParkKanagawaOpened in 1968

Temporarily closed facilities

Shinyashima SuizokukanKagawaOpened in 1969

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