Chinese Water Shrew vs European otter

Chimarrogale styani compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Chinese Water Shrew is Least Concern while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chinese Water Shrew	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (حيوانات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum same	Chordata (حبليات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class same	Mammalia (ثدييات)	Mammalia (ثدييات)
Order	Soricomorpha (زبابيات الشكل)	Carnivora (لواحم)
Family	Soricidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Chimarrogale	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Chimarrogale styani	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Chinese Water Shrew and European otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (ثدييات)

Conservation Status

Chinese Water Shrew

LC — Least Concern

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chinese Water Shrew	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chinese Water Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

European otter

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Chinese Water Shrew

The Chinese Water Shrew (Chimarrogale styani) is a species in the genus Chimarrogale. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

European otter

Sleek semi-aquatic mustelid found along clean rivers, streams, and coastlines across Europe and Asia. European otters can reach 1.3 meters in length and are highly skilled fish hunters, using sensitive whiskers to detect prey movements. Requiring unpolluted water with abundant fish, they are an indicator species for freshwater ecosystem health. Once nearly extinct in Western Europe from hunting and pollution, populations have recovered significantly following water quality improvements.