Aonyx
| Aonyx | |
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| Aonyx cinereus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Mustelidae |
| Subfamily: | Lutrinae |
| Genus: |
Aonyx Lesson, 1827 |
| Type species | |
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Aonyx delalandi Lesson, 1827
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| Synonyms | |
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Aonyx is a genus of otters, containing three species, the African clawless otter, the Congo clawless otter, and the Asian small-clawed otter. The word aonyx means "clawless", derived from the prefix a- ("without") and onyx ("claw/hoof").
Species
Three species are currently recognised:
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
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Aonyx capensis | African clawless otter also known as the Cape clawless otter | sub-Saharan Africa |
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Aonyx congicus | Congo clawless otter, also known as the Cameroon clawless otter, and formerly considered a subspecies of the African clawless otter | Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Rwanda, Uganda, and possibly Burundi and Nigeria |
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Aonyx cinereus | Asian small-clawed otter, also known as the oriental small-clawed otter | South and Southeast Asia |
Zoologists differ as to whether or not to include the Asian small-clawed otter in this genus, or in its own genus Amblonyx. They also differ as to whether the Congo clawless otter is a species, or is conspecific with the African clawless otter.