【明報專訊】You may find the floating sea otters extremely charming; what you may not know is that otters are found not only in the North Pacific Ocean, but also in freshwater (淡水的) regions in Asia. The Asian small-clawed otter (小爪水獺) is the smallest amongst the 13 otter species.

Secrets in the body

Asian small-clawed otters have partially webbed limbs and hand-like nimble fingers that make them different from many other otters. This special feature gives them an excellent sense of touch and coordination, and plays a vital role in locating prey by permitting the otter to probe below mud and under rocks in shallow waters.

Clever chefs

Asian small-clawed otters live in shallow water in mangroves (紅樹林), freshwater wetlands, and small streams. These otters can build their own shelter on land or make use of other animals' abandoned den (獸穴).　The otter's diet consists of crabs, mollusks (軟體動物), fish and other small aquatic animals. Intelligent, they collect clams (蛤) and pile them up on the shore. After sitting in the sun, the clams open and the otter can then eat the flesh in the shell. How clever they are!

Once a family always a family

In the wild, Asian small-clawed otters live in family groups. Parents pair up for life and are both responsible for looking after their babies, called pups. The pups are fed milk for 60 to 64 days. The father is the "breadwinner" of the family until the pups can survive on their own. Pups open their eyes at about one month, and start swimming at two months. They will stay with their parents even when grown up, expanding the group to 12 to 15 otters. The Asian small-clawed otter communicates with other otters through vocal calls or scent markings. Scientists have discovered that this otter species has 12 different calls!

Survival challenges

Once common in Asian countries, these lovely otters are disappearing because of hunting, habitat destruction and water pollution. They are endangered species and are now listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II. They may become threatened with extinction if action is not taken to protect them and their environment. Freshwater is very important to otters. If you can limit your shower time to 5 minutes, you would save 1/4 of your water consumption every day!

Text & photos: Ocean Park Hong Kong

■Glossary

nimble (adj) 靈活的

coordination (n) 協調

probe (v) 探查

breadwinner (n) 經濟支柱

[Smarties' Power English 第218期]