The African Clawless Otter that lives in sub-Saharan Africa is also known as the Cape Clawless Otter or Groot Otter. As the third largest mustelid, it can be 5.3 feet long and 79 pounds heavy. Unlike its relatives, it has claw-less paws except for the three digits on its hind feet.
Moreover, African Clawless Otters can survive in various habitats, from semi-arid regions to dense forests, as long as a body of water is nearby. Their diet primarily consists of crustaceans, especially crabs, but they also eat amphibians, small mammals, and birds.
Username: All_the_Best Published on 2024-12-14 04:05:58 ID NUMBER: 126982
The Sea Otter inhabits the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to Mexico, having adapted to the cold with their dense fur coat, the thickest of any animal. In the past, northern and southern sea otters lived along the Oregon coast. However, the latter eventually moved to the Central Coast of California.
Unlike other marine mammals that rely on blubber to keep warm, sea otters use their fur to survive in their coastal habitats. They have about 600,000 to 1,000,000 hairs per square inch, giving them the thickest fur of all animals.
In comparison to river otters, sea otters float on their back. They are typically bigger, with males reaching up to 100 pounds and almost 5 feet.
Moreover, they give birth to baby otters in the water, unlike river otters that go ashore to build dens. Lastly, their tails are flat and muscular, serving as efficient rudders in their marine environment.
Sea urchins, when unchecked, can overgraze and destroy kelp forests. Because of their sea urchin-rich diet, they are considered keystone species for maintaining the balance of their ecosystems1. Hence, there is a need to conserve sea otter populations, which, unfortunately, are considered endangered species.
The Giant Otters or Giant River Otters are the largest otter species in the world, standing tall at 5.5 feet, including the tail, and weighing 70 pounds.
These social creatures live in the rivers and streams of South America. These diurnal carnivores mainly eat fish, but they also eat crabs, snakes, and small caimans.
Additionally, the Giant Otter is the most vocal among otter species. A study discovered 22 unique vocalizations among adults and 11 in baby otters3.
The North American River Otter can survive in various habitats ranging from the icy rivers of Alaska to the humid marshlands of Florida.
These mustelids have a streamlined body, weighing 25 pounds and standing up to 3.5 feet. They also have a broad, flattened head and thick fur, insulating them against the cold of their watery habitats.
These otters have a varied diet, with fish being their main staple. In addition to fish, they also eat amphibians, crustaceans, small mammals, and birds.
Interestingly, North American River Otters perform a poop dance and use designated "latrine sites" for their waste deposits.
The Marine Otter is a small species of otter found primarily along the rocky coastlines and kelp forests of Chile and Peru. It stands tall at 3.7 feet, weighing up to 11 pounds. You can differentiate them by their dark brown bodies, yellowish-brown throat, and underside.
Its diet includes crustaceans, mollusks, and fish, occasionally indulging in birds and small mammals.
The Southern River Otter inhabits the rivers, lakes, and coastal marine habitats in Chile and Argentina. They have an elongated body reaching up to 3.8 feet and 22 pounds.
Their diet is varied, from fish to crustaceans and mollusks. However, they also prey on small birds and mammals when the opportunity arises.
The Neotropical River Otter lives in the freshwater bodies and coastal areas of Central and South America. It has a sleek, elongated body and dense fur ranging from brown to grayish-brown. Moreover, it has a long tail and white or cream-colored underbelly and throat.
It feeds on fish, crustaceans, small mammals, birds, insects, and reptiles. Furthermore, local fishermen confirmed these animals attack their fishing nets on rocky coasts to eat the remaining stuck fish2, which affects their productivity.
Eurasian otters live in various habitats, such as freshwater rivers, serene lakes, bustling marshes, and coastal areas. They are the most widespread among the otter species, living not only in Europe but also in Asia and North Africa.
They have dense brown fur coats, cream bellies, and longer tails than the previous type. On average, male otters are 4.6 feet, including tails, and can weigh up to 26 pounds.
Regarding diet, these nocturnals hunt fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and occasionally small birds or mammals.
The Hairy-Nosed Otter is a semi-aquatic mammal living in peat swamp forests, coastal mangroves, and rice fields across Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It can grow up to 4.3 feet and weigh up to 18 pounds.
Moreover, its dark brown coat, slightly lighter on the underbelly, shines in its freshwater habitats. It has a unique fur-covered nose that distinguishes it from other otters.
The Spotted-Necked Otter, also called the Speckle-throated Otter, is a unique species inhabiting various parts of Africa. It has a dark brown body and a distinctive pattern of white spots on its neck and chest.
They live in rivers, streams, and lakes, hunting for fish, crabs, frogs, and insects. Meanwhile, they have predators like crocodiles and eagles.
The Smooth-Coated Otter resides in the waterways of South and Southeast Asia. It can grow up to 3.5 feet long, including its tail. Moreover, it sports smooth and short, glossy brown coats that inspired its name. Its upper parts are dark but lighter brown on its underside.
Interestingly, Smooth-Coated Otters can quickly adapt to human-altered landscapes such as rice fields and canals. Some otter populations are even surviving and being protected by authorities in Singapore.
Their hunting tactics involve groups forming a semi-circle in the water to drive fish toward the shore, making them easier to catch. Besides hunting, they also engage in friendly activities such as sliding down muddy banks, wrestling, and chasing their tails.
The Asian Small-Clawed Otter is the world's smallest otter species, reaching only 2 feet and 12 pounds. You can find one in Southeast Asia, from India's mangroves to Indonesia's rice fields, where they feed on crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.
To distinguish Asian Small-Clawed Otters from the others, their cheeks, chin, throat, and sides of the neck are whitish, transitioning to dark fur at the back and light brown at the underside.
The African Clawless Otter that lives in sub-Saharan Africa is also known as the Cape Clawless Otter or Groot Otter. As the third largest mustelid, it can be 5.3 feet long and 79 pounds heavy. Unlike its relatives, it has claw-less paws except for the three digits on its hind feet.
Moreover, African Clawless Otters can survive in various habitats, from semi-arid regions to dense forests, as long as a body of water is nearby. Their diet primarily consists of crustaceans, especially crabs, but they also eat amphibians, small mammals, and birds.
The African Clawless Otter that lives in sub-Saharan Africa is also known as the Cape Clawless Otter or Groot Otter. As the third largest mustelid, it can be 5.3 feet long and 79 pounds heavy. Unlike its relatives, it has claw-less paws except for the three digits on its hind feet.
Moreover, African Clawless Otters can survive in various habitats, from semi-arid regions to dense forests, as long as a body of water is nearby. Their diet primarily consists of crustaceans, especially crabs, but they also eat amphibians, small mammals, and birds.
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surface area.[9] With nearly 1.4 billion people as of 2021, it accounts for about 18% of the world's human population. Africa's population is the youngest among all the continents;[10][11] the median age in 2012 was 19.7, when the worldwide median age was 30.4.[12] Based on 2024 projections, Africa's population will reach 3.8 billion people by 2099.[13] Africa is the least wealthy inhabited continent per capita and second-least wealthy by total wealth, ahead of Oceania. Scholars have attributed this to different factors including geography, climate,[14] corruption,[14] colonialism, the Cold War,[15][16] and neocolonialism. Despite this low concentration of wealth, recent economic expansion and a large and young population make Africa an important economic market in the broader global context. Africa has a large quantity of natural resources and food resources, including diamonds, sugar, salt, gold, iron, cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, silver, petroleum, natural gas, cocoa beans, and tropical fruit.
Africa
# Country Population
(2024) Land Area
(Km²) Density
(P/Km²)
1 Nigeria 232,679,478 910,770 255
2 Ethiopia 132,059,767 1,000,000 132
3 Egypt 116,538,258 995,450 1174 Democratic Republic of the Congo 109,276,265 2,267,050 48
5 Tanzania 68,560,157 885,800 77
6 South Africa 64,007,187 1,213,090 53
7 Kenya 56,432,944 569,140 99
8 Sudan 50,448,963 1,765,048 29
9 Uganda 50,015,092 199,810 250
10 Algeria 46,814,308 2,381,740 20
11 Morocco 38,081,173 446,300 85
12 Angola 37,885,849 1,246,700 30
13 Mozambique 34,631,766 786,380 44
14 Ghana 34,427,414 227,540 151
15 Madagascar 31,964,956 581,795 55
16 Côte d'Ivoire 31,934,230 318,000 100
17 Cameroon 29,123,744 472,710 62
18 Niger 27,032,412 1,266,700 21
19 Mali 24,478,595 1,220,190 20
20 Burkina Faso 23,548,781 273,600 86
21 Malawi 21,655,286 94,280 230
22 Zambia 21,314,956 743,390 29
23 Chad 20,299,123 1,259,200 16
24 Somalia 19,009,151 627,340 30
25 Senegal 18,501,984 192,530 96
26 Zimbabwe 16,634,373 386,850 43
27 Guinea 14,754,785 245,720 60
28 Benin 14,462,724 112,760 128
29 Rwanda 14,256,567 24,670 578
30 Burundi 14,047,786 25,680 547
31 Tunisia 12,277,109 155,360 79
32 South Sudan 11,943,408 610,952 20
33 Togo 9,515,236 54,390 175
34 Sierra Leone 8,642,022 72,180 120
35 Libya 7,381,023 1,759,540 4
36 Congo 6,332,961 341,500 19
37 Liberia 5,612,817 96,320 58
38 Central African Republic 5,330,690 622,980 9
39 Mauritania 5,169,395 1,030,700 5
40 Eritrea 3,535,603 101,000 35
41 Namibia 3,030,131 823,290 4
42 Gambia 2,759,988 10,120 273
43 Gabon 2,538,952 257,670 10
44 Botswana 2,521,139 566,730 4
45 Lesotho 2,337,423 30,360 77
46 Guinea-Bissau 2,201,352 28,120 78
47 Equatorial Guinea 1,892,516 28,050 67
48 Mauritius 1,271,169 2,030 626
49 Eswatini 1,242,822 17,200 72
50 Djibouti 1,168,722 23,180 50
51 Réunion 878,591 2,500 351
52 Comoros 866,628 1,861 466
53 Western Sahara 590,506 266,000 2
54 Cabo Verde 524,877 4,030 130
55 Mayotte 326,505 375 871
56 Sao Tome and Principe 235,536 960 245
57 Seychelles 130,418 460 284
58 Saint Helena 5,237 390 13
African forest elephants roam the dense rainforests of West and Central Africa where they subsist largely on a diet of fruit. They shape forests by dispersing fruit and seeds, browsing, and creating an extensive trail network.
These tall and stately plants make beautiful borders along fences, at the back of perennial beds to set off other flowers, and as a large patch all on their own. African marigolds (Tagetes erecta) are good for cutting for arrangements with long, sturdy stems and good vase life. They are relatively low-maintenance summer flowers and thrive in hot, dry conditions. Here are a few of the prettiest varieties of African marigolds to try:
The African Striped Weasel is a small and brave creature found across the savannas and forests of Africa. They have a striking striped coat that helps them blend into the background and avoid predators. These nocturnal animals eat small rodents, birds, insects, and fruit.
During mating season, the females give birth to 2-3 blind and helpless babies. These little ones grow up quickly and show the same resilience as their parents.
The African Rock Python is a large snake species native to sub-Saharan Africa, thriving in savannas, rainforests, and marshlands.
They are known for their impressive size; on average, they can stretch up to 11 feet. However, some specimens reached almost 20 feet. Their skin features dark brown blotches on a light brown or olive backdrop, which helps them blend into their surroundings.
African Rock Pythons prey on rodents, monkeys, antelopes, and crocodiles. Their hunting technique involves constricting their prey.
The North African Crested Porcupine is one of the largest rodents in the world. Its black or brown body is covered with porcupine quills that can reach up to 14 inches. It prefers rocky terrain, where it spends most of the day in complex burrows.
While generally peaceful, the Crested Porcupine will fight back when it perceives an immediate threat.
The Cape Porcupine has black quills with white or yellowish stripes, a crucial defense mechanism. It lives in a wide range of habitats across Africa.
While primarily an herbivore, Cape Porcupines also gnaw on bones to supplement their diet with calcium. They are also good swimmers and climbers.
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