What was that?

[Seastallion]

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.

[Anthony5]

Maybe it was an otter

[stoneyboy]

I often see them down my soi.

It's the lesser spotted otter.

[Seastallion]

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.

[Seastallion]

I often see them down my soi.

It's the lesser spotted otter.

Really?!

Wow. Google time again.

[stoneyboy]

[Seastallion]

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.

[phazey]

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.

[Seastallion]

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.

[chrisinth]

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

Where are you in Thailand?

[weegee]

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

[Lissos]

Did it have a menthol inhaler in one nostril?

It was a Thai Otter, without a doubt.

[Seastallion]

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.

[Seastallion]

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

Crab-eating_Mongoose.jpg

hqdefault.jpg

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.

[Seastallion]

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.

[opalred]

i have seen them some nights a baby elephant walking backwards

[dotpoom]

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

[Fullstop]

Large squirrel. They're everywhere.

[Docno]

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

[zyphodb]

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

[krisb]

It was just Soutpeel on his way home.

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

[Gillyflower]

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).

[Antiparovian]

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

[jobwolf]

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

[Seastallion]

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.

[Seastallion]

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.

[Gillyflower]

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

[jcates29]

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

[pgrahmm]

Nessie does Hatyai

[Seastallion]

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.