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Head-body 50-82 cm; tail 35-38 cm; weight 5-6 kg.
The presence of entirely hairy nose and rhinarium (moist part of nose), which being naked in other coexisting otter species makes this otter easy to be recognized at close range, and its dark chocolate pelage with slightly paler underpart in the field. Upper lip, chin and throat sharply-demarcated white. Head flattened considerably than those of other otters. Tail flattened and oval in cross section. Feet well-webbed and armed with strong claws.