new Genus of Clawless Otter. 199 
animal is really a second species of Paraonyx. In dentition, 
as in all essential external characters, it agrees completely 
with P. philippsi, being distinguishable from the latter only 
by its considerably greater size, coarser fur, and rather lighter 
colour (paler instead of darker than in Aonyz e. hinde?). 
Dental measurements (in millimetres). 
P.* length x breadth. .| 911x105} 96105) 11105) 1213-1) 135x151 
ae As Pikes. Pir eee se AN 11146} 117x158 
fy ‘ |115x63 | 116x662 |15°3x85 | 16-2104) 176x11°6 
» height (cusp4) .. 4:7 pe ae 73 Ne 
m.o length X breadth .| 45x52 | 37x5 57x65 | 55x79 
Nothing is yet known of the habits of these remarkable 
otters. Aonyx itself is, however, known to be less strictly 
aquatic than is Lutra ; it is not often able to procure fish, 
and crabs form its staple diet, water-birds, eggs, lizards, frogs, 
and toads also being frequently devoured. I believe that 
Paraonyx will be found to possess still more terrestrial habits 
than those of Aonyx, an idea which forced itself also upon 
Loénnberg when describing the hands and feet of P. congica. 
Besides the features alluded to by Liénnberg, one may cite in 
support of such a view the degeneration of the facial vibrisse, 
the thinness of the pelage, the nakedness (be it natural or 
due to excessive abrasion) of the fore limbs, and the frosting 
of the head and shoulders. The latter character may be 
regarded, perhaps, as the beginning of a change in the colour- 
scheme leading towards the condition seen in the ratel and 
many other terrestrial carnivores. More important than all, 
the low crowns, blunt cusps, and the interdental relations of 
the three principal cheek-teeth (24, m. i) of Paraonyx suggest 
that it does not engage in the active pursuit of fishes ; and 
the lightness and delicacy of these teeth seem to forbid the 
supposition that it feeds, like Aonyaz, chiefly on crabs. I 
suspect that the staple diet will be found to consist of soft 
substances like small terrestrial vertebrates and eggs. 
It is not easy to form an opinion as to the inter-relation- 
Paraonyx 
Aonyx ¢. hindet. 
philippsi. congica. 
2 type. | 9, aged. 2. 3 type. 
| 
