8 



ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 7. NiO 9. 



of the teeth that it must f eed chiefly on diff erent things than the 

 other races of Clawless O t ter s. As the lat ter to a great extent 

 subsist on crabs and molluscs for the crushing of which their 

 teeth are admirably suited it is clear that the Congo Otter is 

 not adapted, or at least less adapted, to such a diet, and it is 

 less specialised with regard to its dentition than other Clawless 

 Otters. This is not only to be seen on the cheek teeth, but the 



incisors of the lower jaw. 

 especially i^, are less reduced 

 in size than in A. capensis. 



In another respect again 

 the Congo Clawless Otter ap- 

 pears to be more specialised 

 than its allies, and that is 



Fig. 1. Mandibular teeth, left side, a of 



Aonyx capensis, congica and h of 



^4. capensis. nat. size. 



Fig. 2. Surface of p^, and m^ 

 a of Aonyx capensis congica, 

 and h of A. capensis. nat. size. 



with regard to the structure of the feet. The fore-feet look 

 very much like hands, and the much reduced web of the 

 hind-feet indicates more terrestrial habits than can be expected 

 about Lutra capensis. 



;' The Clawless Otter appears to be very rare in Lower Congo 

 as^^Mr. Laman has informed me in a letter. The natives call 

 it »Bingi » that is the same name as they apply to the Spotted- 

 necked Otter (a member of the Lutra maculicollis gvow^) which 

 also is found in Lower Congo and of which Mr. Laman at the 

 same time sent a skin, but unfortunatelv no skull. 



Tryckt den 15 december 1910. 

 Uprsala 1910. Almqvist & Wlksells Boktryckeri-A.-B. 



