I was just about to go to bed....I was on the balcony having a final ciggie....and an animal ran/skuttled/crept/trotted/slowly scampered past, down the soi towards the swamp at the end.

I'm pretty good with natural history....but I don't know what this was.

It was bigger than an average cat.

It looked like a giant rat, except it's tail was thicker and fur-covered, and it's legs were stockier and longer. I think otter, but the tail wasn't that thick, and this animal's gait was different.

It was sleek...again, otter-like.

Very pointy face...otter-like.

I'll do a google, but if anyone knows, that would be cool.

Maybe it was an otter

I often see them down my soi.

It's the lesser spotted otter.

Lol, Anthony. It had the wrong gait ...I think.
I didn't find otters on the Wiki list of Thailand mammals.

Googling...Asian Palm Civet is the closest thing I've found that it might be.

I often see them down my soi.

It's the lesser spotted otter.

Really?!

Wow. Google time again.

ImageUploadedByThaivisa Connect1439225116.280349.jpg

That photo is obviously not Thailand, but the profile on the sign is so close to what I saw. I think the base of the tail was thinner, though.

Better head down the local restaurant, They could be serving "Chicken Tarka", it's just like a Chicken Tikka, except it's a little otter.

I'm now convinced that it was an otter. Apparently there are 3 species in Thailand, although the hairy nosed otter might not exist here any more.

Haha to "lesser spotted otter", although this one undoubtedly is.

Try a mongoose....................

Where are you in Thailand?

Had you been on the Hong Thong just before seeing it?...lol

Did it have a menthol inhaler in one nostril?

It was a Thai Otter, without a doubt.

Much bigger than a mongoose and the tail was sleek, not bushy.

This morning, my wife believes me, but the neighbours are either disinterested or skeptical.

Try a mongoose....................

Crab-eating_Mongoose.jpg

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Where are you in Thailand?

Much much bigger than a mongoose.

I'm in Hatyai.

There is a klong about 1 km away, and the swamp is quite big....probably 5 acres. But the area is quite urban aside from the swamp...which is quite a dry swamp during the dry. only a few stagnant pools here and there. There are eels and crabs in the swamp.

Had you been on the Hong Thong just before seeing it?...lol

Of course. Just downed the last one for the night and was on the balcony having my last ciggie.

i have seen them some nights a baby elephant walking backwards

I often see them down my soi.

It's the lesser spotted otter.

Really?!

Wow. Google time again.

Ni need to....So named because it is not seen very often 555

Large squirrel. They're everywhere.

This is a shot I took in a Singapore wetlands reserve. If they have them in Singapore, they likely have them in Thailand...

There are several species of mongoose here, I've seen one the size of an otter here in Isaan, maybe an Otter but I doubt it in any kind of built up area unless their "city" otters lol

It was just Soutpeel on his way home.

Use caution, he'll come up from underneath and rip your canastas clean off.

Many years ago, Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi was one of the books for my English Matric. I have always loved the story. If you have big, horrid snakes around Rikki will fix the problem for you (if it's a mongoose).

I wondered where my GF had got to......

Hi Seastallion, , I would like to know what you are smoking before retiring? sorry

Hi Seastallion, , I would like to know what you are smoking before retiring? sorry

Your guess is as good as anyone else's. .

But inferences aside....I was not halucinating. I did not think it was an otter because I did not know that otters exist in Thailand....but I was so intrigued, I put-off going to bed and came downstairs to start the OP.

I am now convinced it was an otter.

The neighbours must have discussed it, because they all believe it now.

Many years ago, Kipling's Rikki Tikki Tavi was one of the books for my English Matric. I have always loved the story. If you have big, horrid snakes around Rikki will fix the problem for you (if it's a mongoose).

Rikki Tiki Tavi was a favourite of mine...when I was 6. I can still recall the drawing of Rikki and the cobra.

Matriculation material?

Guys, it was definitely not a mongoose. I know mongooses well.

Sorrry Seastallion......you're quite right, it wasn't Matric, BUT it was 2nd or 3rd year high school just the same.

Could it be a back-striped weasel? I know their habitat does not typically extend to Hat Yai. However, I've seen something very similar to what you describe up here in Chiang Rai. To me it looked a lot like a weasel and a google search indicated it was likely a back-striped weasel, as their habitat (barely) seems to include the very northern part of Thailand. Perhaps they are down there too? Before you say "no way", from the wikipedia page: "Little has been recorded of this weasel's habitats and habits. It has been found in a wide variety of habitats, and it is not yet possible to define its habitat needs." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-striped_weasel

Nessie does Hatyai

Could it be a back-striped weasel? I know their habitat does not typically extend to Hat Yai. However, I've seen something very similar to what you describe up here in Chiang Rai. To me it looked a lot like a weasel and a google search indicated it was likely a back-striped weasel, as their habitat (barely) seems to include the very northern part of Thailand. Perhaps they are down there too? Before you say "no way", from the wikipedia page: "Little has been recorded of this weasel's habitats and habits. It has been found in a wide variety of habitats, and it is not yet possible to define its habitat needs." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-striped_weasel

That actually looks more like it as the tail is not as thick.....but weasels are much smaller than what I saw. This was bigger than a cat, body plus tail I estimate was 70 to 80 cm.