DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

FACULTY OF SCIENCE & MATHEMATICS

SULTAN IDRIS EDUCATION UNIVERSITY
INDIVIDUAL FIELDTRIP REPORT
SBF3013
PHYSIOLOGY

VENUE :
MELAKA ZOO & AYER KEROH RECREATIONAL FOREST
DATE/DAY :
04 DISEMBER 2016 / SUNDAY

NAME : SITI FATIMAH BT ZULKIFLI

MATRIC NO : D20152072027
GROUP : A
LECTURERS NAME : PROF MADYA DR. SYAKIRAH BT SAMSUDIN

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Introduction
On 4 Disember 2016, we went to Melaka Zoo and Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest located in
Ayer Keroh, Melaka as our fieldtrip. The purpose of the fieldtrip is to understand and achieve the
learning outcomes of the course especially on distinguishing physiological mechanisms in
different organisms, effect of abiotic factors on physiology and appreciating life. Along the
fieldtrip, I am very impressed with the animals and nature. Our first stop is Melaka Zoo which is
the second largest zoo in Malaysia. Established in 1963, Melaka Zoo is spread out across 54
acres and is managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. The complex is home to
a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Our second stop is the Botanical Gardens,
formerly known as the Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest. It was established in 2006 and is
encircled by a forest that contains over 300 species of fauna and flora.

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Animal
Oriental-small Clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea)

Background :
Common name : Oriental-small clawed otter (Memerang kecil)
Scientific name : Aonyx cinerea
Kingdom : Animalia
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Mustelidae
Genus : Amblonyx
Species : A. cinerea

(a) Habitat
It has been found in lower montane evergreen forests, peat swamp forests, freshwater
wetlands, freshwater swamp forests and coastal wetlands (Roberton, 2007). The Asian small-
clawed otters are nocturnal and crepuscular where they live near people in northern Malaysia.
At night their chips can be heard along the banks of paddy fields (Hussain et al, 2011)

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(b) Reproduction
The Asian small-clawed otter is amongst the least studied Asian otter species in wild.
Information on its reproductive behavior mostly comes from various zoos outside of its
distribution range. Sexual behavior has been observed in pups as young as 6 months with
breeding behavior having been noted in males and females as young as 18 months (Hussain
et al, 2011).

Mating season
In the females oestrous cycle has duration of anywhere from 28 to 30 days, with breeding
occurring the year round (Lancester, 1975). Behavioral signs at the onset of oestrus may
include increased rubbing and marking (Hussain et al, 2011).

Mating behavior
In captivity mating usually takes place in the water, but has also been observed on land on a
few occasions. In most cases the exact gestation period could not be ascertained but it is
believed to be around 60 days. Pregnancy is usually obvious by the increase in the females
girth. The females collect grass and other materials such as hay or straw and carry it into the
breeding chamber a few days before parturition. The males frequently help in the task of
collecting bedding and carrying it into the maternity chamber (Lancester, 1975).

Pregnancy
A study in Santa Barbara Zoo showed that regular peaks in progesterone corresponded with
observed mating activities; both male and female engaged in nest building and sometimes
females even showed signs of pregnancy; however no offspring were ever produced. Such
results illustrate one of the most frustrating aspects of attempts to breed small-clawed otter
(Foster-Turley and Engfer, 1988).

(c) Social structure behavior

All that is known about the social behavior of small-clawed otters is from studies in captivity.
In captivity, they display a strong pair bond and both parents share the responsibilities of
rearing the offspring. Family groups can be easily build up to 15 or more animals (Hussain et
al, 2011).

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(d) Communication
It is capable of a wide range of sounds. They utter a variety of yelps and whimpers and when
disturbed high-pitched ululating screams (Medway, 1969).

(e) Diet and eating habits

The otter is a carnivore in dietary habits because the diet of free-ranging Asian small-clawed
otters includes; crabs, crustaceans, snails, mollusks, frogs and fish (Hussain et al, 2011).
Most exhibits have potable water provided via running water and/or pools.

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 Plant
Phyllanthus emblica (Pokok Melaka)

Background
Common name : Pokok Melaka
Scientific name : Phyllanthus emblica
Kingdom : Plantae
Order : Malpighiales
Family : Phyllanthaceae
Genus : Phyllanthus
Species : P. emblica

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Botanical description
A small to medium sized deciduous tree, 8 18 meters height with thin light grey bark
exfoliating in small thin irregular flakes, leaves are simple, subsessile, closely set along the
branchlets, light green having the appearance of pinnate leaves; flowers are greenish yellow, in
axillary fascicles, unisexual, males numerous on short slender pedicels, females few, subsessile,
ovary 3-celled; fruits globose, fleshy, pale yellow with six obscure vertical furrows enclosing six
trigonous seeds in 2-seeded 3 crustaceous cocci.

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Reference :
Hussain, S. A., Gupta, S. K., & De, P. K., Silva. (2011). BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF
ASIAN SMALL-CLAWED OTTER Aonyx cinereus (ILLIGER, 1815): A
REVIEW. IUCN Otter Spec. Group Bull.,28(2), 63-75. Retrieved from
http://www.otterspecialistgroup.org/Bulletin/Volume28/Hussain_et_al_2011.pdf
Foster-Turley, P., Engfer, S. (1988). The species survival plan for the Asian Small-clawed Otter,
Aonyx cinerea. Int. Zoo Yb., 27: 79-84.
Indian Medicinal Plants -A compendium of 500 species Part 3 by Orient Longman Publications,
1997, page 256-263.
Lancaster, W.E. (1975). Exhibiting and breeding the Asian small-clawed otter at Adelaide Zoo.
Int. Zoo Yearbook. 15: 63-65.
Roberton, S.I. (2007). The status and conservation of small carnivores in Vietnam. Ph.D. thesis.
Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Conservation, School of Biological Sciences. University
of East Anglia. U.K. 273 pp.