Habitat selection by the Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in rivers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorSomers M.J.
dc.contributor.authorNel J.A.J.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:04:50Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:04:50Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractWe radio-tracked seven Cape clawless otters (Aonyx capensis) (Schinz, 1821) in two rivers in the Western Cape Province. South Africa, providing data on their habitat selection. Habitat type was investigated at a scale that enabled us to separate the effects of types of riparian vegetation, geomorphology and anthropogenic influences. Otters selected areas with boulders and/or reed beds, which provided high crab density and shelter. Direct observations showed that they used two foraging modes depending on the habitat selected. Otters could select open water within c. 8 m of the shore, dive and surface with or without prey. Otherwise hunting involved them moving into shallow water (c. 0.2 m deep), and walking along the substrate feeling for prey with their forefeet. Disturbed possible prey items were then caught with the forefeet.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationAfrican Journal of Ecology
dc.identifier.citation42
dc.identifier.citation4
dc.identifier.issn1416707
dc.identifier.other10.1111/j.1365-2028.2004.00526.x
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/12855
dc.subjectforaging behavior
dc.subjecthabitat related behavior
dc.subjecthabitat selection
dc.subjecthabitat use
dc.subjectmustelid
dc.subjectradiotelemetry
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectEastern Hemisphere
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectSouthern Africa
dc.subjectSub-Saharan Africa
dc.subjectWestern Cape
dc.subjectWorld
dc.subjectAonyx
dc.subjectAonyx capensis
dc.subjectCarnivora
dc.subjectDecapoda (Crustacea)
dc.subjectLutrinae
dc.subjectPhragmites
dc.subjectRiparia
dc.titleHabitat selection by the Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) in rivers in the Western Cape Province, South Africa
dc.typeArticle
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