Head to head
Asian Small-Clawed Otter vs Hairy-Nosed Otter
The Asian small-clawed otter and hairy-nosed otter both inhabit Southeast Asian wetlands, but their size, social structure, and conservation status differ sharply.
| Asian Small-Clawed Otter | Hairy-Nosed Otter | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Aonyx cinereus | Lutra sumatrana |
| Relative size | Smallest otter species in the world | Larger than the small-clawed otter |
| Signature feature | Dexterous, partly webbed paws | Fully furred nose |
| Social structure | Close-knit multigenerational family groups | Poorly documented |
| Conservation history | Declining but present | Long feared extinct, later rediscovered |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing |
| Habitat | Wetlands, coastal | Wetlands, coastal |
Asian Small-Clawed Otter vs Hairy-Nosed Otter: common questions
Which is rarer, the Asian small-clawed otter or the hairy-nosed otter?
The hairy-nosed otter is far rarer, considered one of the rarest and least-studied otter species in the world, while the Asian small-clawed otter, though declining, remains comparatively better known and more widespread.
How can you tell an Asian small-clawed otter from a hairy-nosed otter?
The Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world with unusually dexterous, only partly webbed paws, while the hairy-nosed otter is larger and has a fully furred nose unlike the bare-nosed Asian small-clawed otter.
Was either the Asian small-clawed otter or the hairy-nosed otter ever thought extinct?
The hairy-nosed otter was long feared extinct across large parts of its historical range before scattered populations were rediscovered, a history not shared by the more consistently documented Asian small-clawed otter.