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The Asian Small-Clawed Otter is the smallest species of otter. They're native to the wetlands, rivers and creeks of southeast Asia. They're dark grey on the back with a creamy underside. They're just around 60 centimeters long and weigh around 5 kilograms. Like the otter species, they maintain their body heat by eating around a quarter of their own weight every day. Despite spending most of their time in the water, their hands are only partially webbed to allow for greater dexterity. Their diet consists of crustaceans, mollusks, fish, insects and amphibians.

Small-Clawed Otters live in families with older siblings helping raising the youngest offspring. Only the alpha pair in the group breeds. As social animals, they have a wide range of sounds like yips and barks. They use their scent glands at their behind to mark their territories. They may breed year round and give birth to between one and nine cubs inside a nesting burrow. Generally, two litters will be born each year.

Small-Clawed Otters live around eight to ten years in the wild but usually reach ages of 20 in captivity. They're easier to care for as pets than other otter species. Asian farmers and fishers have symbiotic relationships with them. The otters eat crabs, mollusks and crayfish that would otherwise destroy the rice crops. Fishers train the otters to chase fish into their nets in exchange for food.

Small-Clawed Otters are a health indicator, as they're very vulnerable to pollution and destruction of their habitat, so a healthy otter population is an indicator for a healthy environment, and the disappearance of them means that the area is too polluted. Currently, the species is listed as vulnerable due to increased pollution, habitat destruction and hunting.