Aonyx capensis
Silhouette: Margot Michaud · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~50%
The African clawless otter (Lutra capensis), 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").
Aonyx capensis is a member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) and of the order Carnivora. The earliest known species of otter, Potamotherium valetoni, occurred in the upper Oligocene of Europe: A. capensis first appears in the fossil record during the Pleistocene. Aonyx is closely related to the extinct giant Sardinian otter, Megalenhydris.
Until recently the Congo clawless otter was considered a subspecies as well, but recent authorities treat it as a separate species A. congicus. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Kruger National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terra Natura Murcia | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 2 | Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Zero Distance Aquarium Ise Sea Paradise | 🇯🇵 Japan | |
| 4 | Two Oceans Aquarium | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report an African Clawless Otter sighting in Garden Route National Park on a given day, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 10th most-seen of the 35 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March, June and August
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report an African Clawless Otter in Garden Route National Park on a given day, against under 5% in September and December–January, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most African Clawless Otter sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 parks where we can rate African Clawless Otter sightings, Garden Route National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Table Mountain National Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same order: Carnivora
The closest relatives of the African Clawless Otter that you can see in Garden Route National Park (order Carnivora, Carnivorans) are Afro-Australian Fur Seal (about 20%), Cape Genet (about 10%) and Cape Gray Mongoose (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the African Clawless Otter is recorded against all the mammals logged in Garden Route National Park (30 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
