The dark chestnut coat of A. capensis congica acts as a form of camouflage within the muddy swamps and rivers of the Congo basin. The coloration may protect A. capensis congica from predation by the crocodiles, pythons, eagles, and leopards in this habitat (Kingdon, 1982). Although there is no documentation of predation on Congo clawless otters, other otter species are taken by large snakes, crocodilians, large cats, and birds of prey (Berry, 2000). It is reasonable to assume that similar predators take A. capensis congica.
Although it is not illustrated or described for A. capensis congica, the arched posture, snarled facial expressions, and harsh vocalizations of a defensive otter are commonly observed in the genus Aonyx (Estes, 1991).
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Aonyx capensis congica is a large, powerfully built otter, though it is more slender in the neck and back than other populations of Aonyx capensis. Head and body length ranges between 78 and 97 cm, with the tail adding an additional 40 to 59 cm to the total length. Weights range from 15 to 25 kg in adult animals.
These otters have a dark, chestnut-brown coat with some silver frosting on the head and neck, contrasted by a white chest, nose and ears. A distinctive black patch is located between the eyes and nostrils (Kingdon, 1982). Aonyx capensis congica young resemble the adults except for a greater frosting of the coat. Unlike many other otter species, A. capensis congica has no claws, no webbing in the manus, and webbing only halfway down the digits in the pes. All are adaptations to improve dexterity and tactile sensitivity for foraging in the muddy waters of the lower Congo basin. The less specialized dentition of A. capensis congica, when compared to the broader species, A. capensis, serves as a distinguishing characteristic and suggests a broader carnivorous diet than other populations (Haltenorth and Diller, 1980).
Range mass: 15 to 25 kg.
Range length: 78 to 97 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Lifespan range in A. capensis congica is unknown. Captive specimens of the larger species, A. capensis, and the related species, A. cinerea, have lived as long as 14 and 16 years respectively (Nowak, 1999).
Range lifespan
Status: captivity: 16 (high) years.
Congo clawless otters reside exclusively in the small swamps, ponds, and streams of heavy rainforests. Due to their amphibious lifestyle, these otters are both excellent swimmers and skilled explorers of the shores (Kingdon, 1982). Their hair type, reduced vibrissae, and rather generalized dental morphology suggest that they may be more terrestrial than other otter species (Nowak, 1999).
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: rainforest
Aquatic Biomes: lakes and ponds; rivers and streams
Wetlands: swamp
Congo clawless otters are found in the lower Congo basin, which lies between southeastern Nigeria and western Uganda.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
Aonyx capensis congica is known to have a broad carnivorous diet, consisting of crabs, mollusks, fish, frogs, and other small vertebrates and invertebrates found in the shallow rivers and muddy shores of the Congo river basin. Its streamlined, powerful body propels it after the aquatic prey of rivers and ponds. Its specially adapted fingers are sensitive and dexterous, well suited for overturning stones, grasping prey, and sifting through the muddy shores of streams and swamps for invertebrates (Kingdon, 1982). Aonyx capensis congica has also been observed hunting in the tangled reeds and shoots of riverside vegetation, actively stalking small terrestrial vertebrates from cover (Haltenorth and Diller, 1980).
Animal Foods: mammals; amphibians; fish; eggs; mollusks; terrestrial worms; aquatic crustaceans
Primary Diet: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats non-insect arthropods, Molluscivore )
Within the rainforest ecosystem, A. capensis congica acts as a predator, preying on crustaceans, fish, frogs, and other small vertebrates and invertebrates. It is also a possible prey animal for pythons, leopards, eagles, and crocodiles (Kingdon, 1982).
If captured when young, their relatives, Aonyx cinerea have proven intelligent pets and have been trained to catch fish for Malay fishermen. Aonyx capensis congica has been commercially hunted for its beautiful coat as well. Though the fur quality is considered not as high as other otter species.
Positive Impacts: body parts are source of valuable material
Much of the natural history of A. capensis congica remains a mystery at this point. Most of what is currently help to be true of these animals has been constructed from fragmentary field observations and assumptions based on other populations of A. capensis, which are also poorly understood. Aonyx capensis congica was previously considered a species, A. congicus, but range overlap and similarities with A. capensis resulted in their being considered a population of A. capensis.
No form of communication has been specifically documented for A. capensis congica. Clawless otters, in general, communicate vocally with chirps, squeals, and purring noises when expressing affection or play. Often growls, snarls, and a screaming wail are signs of displeasure or apprehension. Clawless otters also use strong olfactory cues to communicate. They musk their coats and produce a sticky feces, capable of clinging to vertical surfaces, to mark the boundaries of their territory. The visual aspects of communication, including body language, are mostly undescribed (Estes, 1991). Tactile communication is undoubtedly of some importance in reproduction, especially between mates and between a mother and her offspring.
Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; scent marks
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
The most likely causes for the endangered status of A. capensis congica are habitat loss and pollution due to development in the Congo basin as well as chronic over-harvesting for fur (Nowak, 1999).
US Federal List: endangered
CITES: appendix i
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Aonyx capensis congica has no known negative effects on the economy. However, if provoked, clawless otters have been known to sever fingers from the hands of humans with their bite. They have also attacked and drowned dogs that tread too closely to them (Estes, 1991).
Negative Impacts: injures humans (bites or stings)
Very little has been recorded about the mating habits of Congo clawless otters. They remain enigmatic as their elusive nature and remote range have prevented many of their behaviors from being described (Estes, 1991). One could infer that the mating system is similar to other African otter species, where there is a short-lived monogamy followed by a return to a more solitary lifestyle (Chanin, 1985).
Mating System: monogamous
Nothing is known with certainty about the reproductive behavior of A. capensis congica. It has been suggested that the gestation period is around two months, that an average of two to three young are born per litter, and that young do not reach sexual maturity until about one year of age (Nowak, 1999). Although it is not known whether the breeding is seasonal or occurs throughout the year, births do seem to peak in the dry season in other Aonyx capensis populations, and it is predicted that A. capensis congica would be similar (Estes, 1991).
Despite a paucity of information on the development and reproduction of these otters, we can reasonably infer that they are similar to other members of the genus Aonyx. Aonyx cinerea has an estruous cycle that lasts between 22.4 and 30 days, and an estrus of 3 days. Because the gestation period is between 60 and 64 days, they can produce two litters per year. The young are altricial, and do not open their eyes until the age of 40 days. Young are able to swim by the age of 9 weeks, and eat solid foods after 80 days.
Breeding interval: The breeding interval is not known at this time.
Breeding season: It is not known whether or not these animals breed seasonally.
Range number of offspring: 1 to 6.
Average number of offspring: 2-3.
Average gestation period: 2 months.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; viviparous
Much of the parental behavior in Congo clawless otters is unknown. The mother is the primary care giver, but it is unclear to what degree the male is involved in rearing young (Nowak, 1999). Although we may infer that the mother provides young with milk, shelter, and grooming during their period of dependency, the duration of care is a mystery. Further, there is very little documentation on other members of the genus; observed males of the same subfamily, Lutrinae, show varying degrees of care. Though often solitary creatures, Congo clawless otters have been observed foraging as family parties. However, it is hypothesized that these associations are transient and based more on territory sharing and overlapping rather than a post-independence affinity for their family members (Haltenorth and Diller, 1980).
Parental Investment: altricial ; pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Provisioning: Female, Protecting: Female)
Ki-dour Kongo (Aonyx congicus) a zo ur c'hi-dour afrikan hag a vev e stêrioù ha geunioù ar c'hoadegoù glaviek eus Kreiz Afrika.
Tost-tre eo dre e feson ouzh ki-dour ar C'hap met bihanoc'h eo e zent ha n'eo ket ken stank e vlevenn. War a seblant e vev aliesoc'h war an douar eget ar c'hon-dour arall. Nebeut a draoù a anavezer diwar-benn e zoare-buhez met krediñ a reer en em vag diwar raned hag anevaled douar bihan. Hemolc'het e vez evit e greoñ ha lakaet en arvar gant distrujadur e diriad.
Tri isspesad a zo:
Ki-dour Kongo (Aonyx congicus) a zo ur c'hi-dour afrikan hag a vev e stêrioù ha geunioù ar c'hoadegoù glaviek eus Kreiz Afrika.
Tost-tre eo dre e feson ouzh ki-dour ar C'hap met bihanoc'h eo e zent ha n'eo ket ken stank e vlevenn. War a seblant e vev aliesoc'h war an douar eget ar c'hon-dour arall. Nebeut a draoù a anavezer diwar-benn e zoare-buhez met krediñ a reer en em vag diwar raned hag anevaled douar bihan. Hemolc'het e vez evit e greoñ ha lakaet en arvar gant distrujadur e diriad.
Aonyx capensis congicus es un subspecie de Aonyx capensis.
Igihura (izina ry’ubumenyi mu kilatini Aonyx capensis congicus)
Kongo beznagu ūdrs jeb Kamerūnas beznagu ūdrs[1] (Aonyx capensis congicus) ir daļēji ūdenī dzīvojošs plēsējs, viena no Āfrikas beznagu ūdra pasugām.
Kongo beznagu ūdrs ir sastopams Kongo Republikā, Kongo Demokrātiskajā Republikā, Kamerūnā un Gabonā, kā arī iespējams tas dzīvo Angolā, Burundi, Centrālāfrikas Republikā, Ekvatoriālajā Gvinejā, Ruandā un Ugandā.[2] Tam patīk subtropu un tropu mitrie meži, purvi un palieņu pļavas, tas apmetas saldūdens dīķu, upju un avotu krastos, to var redzēt gan pie saldūdens gan sāļezeriem, jūras krastā un upju sazarotajās grīvās.
Kongo beznagu ūdrs ir līdzīgs Kāpas beznagu ūdrim (Āfrikas beznagu ūdra nominālpasugai). Tā ķermenis ir slaids, garš un cilindrveidīgs. Tam ir īsas, spēcīgas kājas; priekšķepas ir īsākas par pakaļkājām. Atšķirībā no Kāpas beznagu ūdra tā priekšķepām nav pelplēves,[3][4] bet pakaļkājām tikai līdz pusei no pirkstu garuma.[3] Dažādi informācijas avoti sniedz dažādu informāciju par Kongo beznagu ūdra nagiem. Lioncrusher's Domain (angliski) raksta, ka tam uz visām ķepām ir nelieli nadziņi,[4] bet IUCN Otter Specialist Group (angliski) raksta, ka priekšķepām nagu nav, bet pakaļkājām nelieli nagi ir uz trīs vidējiem pirkstiem.[3] Kongo beznagu ūdram ir 5 pirksti, no kuriem neviens nav īkšķis. Atšķirībā no Kāpas beznagu ūdra zobi ir nedaudz savādāki, tie ir mazāki un asāki, vairāk piemēroti gaļas ēšanai.[4] Arī galva ir smalkāk veidota, slaidāka, un kakls mazāk muskuļots.
Kongo beznagu ūdrs tāpat kā Kāpas beznagu ūdrs ir liela auguma, tā kopējais ķermeņa garums ir apmēram 1,5 m, svars gandrīz 20 kg.[3]
Kažoks atšķirībā no Kāpas beznagu ūdra ir plānāks un ar īsāku apmatojumu. Krāsa tumši brūna ar kontrastaini gaišu pavēderi, krūtīm, pakakli un purna daļu. Uz galvas starp acīm un nāsīm tam ir melns apmatojums, kas ierāmēts ar baltu matojumu.[3] Tā kā Kongo beznagu ūdra kažoks ir plānāks, tā ūsas ir mazāk attīstītas, priekšķepām nav peldplēves, zinātnieki uzskata, ka tas vairāk laika pavada uz sauszemes nekā ūdenī, salīdzinot ar citiem ūdriem.[4] Tā zobi biologiem liek domāt, ka ūdri pamatā barojas ar sauszemes bezmugurkaulniekiem, kā sliekām, olām un vardēm,[4] lai gan tāpat kā citi ūdri medī krabjus un vēžveidīgos.[3]
Par Kongo beznagu ūdra vairošanos un uzvedību nekas daudz nav zināms. Ir pieņemts, ka šie ūdri uzvedas līdzīgi Kāpas beznagu ūdriem.[4]
Kongo beznagu ūdrs jeb Kamerūnas beznagu ūdrs (Aonyx capensis congicus) ir daļēji ūdenī dzīvojošs plēsējs, viena no Āfrikas beznagu ūdra pasugām.
剛果小爪水獺（Aonyx capensis congica），又名喀麥隆無爪水獺或扎伊爾小爪水獺，是非洲小爪水獺的一個亞種。[1]牠們分佈在喀麥隆、剛果共和國、剛果民主共和國及加蓬，有可能也在安哥拉、布隆迪、中非共和國、赤道畿內亞、尼日利亞、盧旺達及烏干達等地。[2]牠們棲息在亞熱帶或熱帶的多種環境，包括森林、紅樹林、沼澤、山區及湖泊等。牠們受到失去棲息地的威脅。
