The African clawless otter, also known as the Cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second-largest freshwater otter species. It inhabits permanent water bodies in savannah and lowland forest areas through most of sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterised by partly webbed and clawless feet, from which their name is derived. The word 'aonyx' means clawless, derived from the prefix a- ("without") and onyx ("claw/hoof").
African clawless otter
Skull of an African clawless otter
African clawless otter in Toledo Zoo, Ohio
African Clawless Otter at a river mouth on the Southern African Coast
Otters are carnivorous mammals in the subfamily Lutrinae. The 13 extant otter species are all semiaquatic, aquatic, or marine. Lutrinae is a branch of the Mustelidae family, which includes weasels, badgers, mink, and wolverines, among other animals.
Otter
Sign warning drivers in Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides to beware of otters on the road
"Kawauso" (獺) from the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Sekien Toriyama
Image: Fischotter Lutra lutra 1