Oriental Small-Clawed Otter Skull

Oriental Small-Clawed Otter Skull measures 3.9 inches. Oriental Small-Clawed Otter Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw). Made in USA. Cast is of an original California Academy of Sciences specimen. Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home decor skull, or office decor skull. 

The Oriental small-clawed otter also known as the Asian small-clawed otter, is the smallest otter species in the world. Its paws are a distinctive feature, its claws not extending beyond the fleshy end pads of its partially webbed fingers and toes. This gives it a high degree of manual dexterity so that it can use its paws to feed on molluscs, crabs and other small aquatic animals.

The Oriental small-clawed otter or Aonyx cinereus has deep brown fur. Its underfur is lighter near the base. The sides of the neck and head are brown, but its cheeks, upper lip, chin, throat and sides of the neck are whitish.

The Oriental small-clawed otter or Aonyx cinereus skull is short. The muzzle has long coarse whiskers on either side. Its eyes are located toward the front of the head. The small ears are oval-shaped.

The Oriental small-clawed otter or Aonyx cinereus feeds mainly on crabs, mudskippers and Trichogaster fish. Its diet varies seasonally. When and where available, it also catches snakes, frogs, insects, rats and rice field fish like catfish, Anabas testudineus and Channa striata.

The size of crabs found in spraints in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary ranged in carapace width from 3.9 to 17.3 in. Captive Oriental small-clawed otters or Aonyx cinereus were observed to leave shellfish in the sun so that the heat causes them to open. That way, they consume the meat without having to crush the shells.

The hindmost upper teeth (pm4 and m3) are broad and robust and are specialized for crushing the exoskeletons of crabs and other hard shelled prey. They hunt food by using their whiskers to detect movements of prey in the water.

Oriental small-clawed otter or Aonyx cinereus use their forepaws to locate and capture items rather than their mouths. Their incomplete webbing gives them a great deal of manual dexterity.

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