This otter occurs in central equatorial Africa.  It is closely related to the Cape clawless otter but in that it has silver tips to the ends of its hairs on its neck and head and has dark patches of fur between the eyes and nostrils.

It lives exclusively in marshes and shallow margins of lakes.  This is the least adapted of all the otters to an aquatic way of life as it has short fur providing less insulation.  The back feet are only partly webbed and the front have no webbing at all.

The Facts 

Endangered status:

Diet: earthworms, frogs, freshwater crabs, mud dwelling fish.

Length: 1.3 to 1.5m

Weight: 13.6 to 18.1 kg

Distribution of the Congo Otter (Aonyx congica)

Data based on Otters and Action Plan for their conservation (IUCN 1990) and world otters (IOSF 2005)