Australian humpback dolphin vs common freshwater nerite

Sousa sahulensis compared with Theodoxus fluviatilis

Key Differences

• Australian humpback dolphin is Vulnerable while common freshwater nerite is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Australian humpback dolphin	common freshwater nerite
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Cycloneritida (Cycloneritida)
Family	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)	Neritidae
Genus	Sousa	Theodoxus
Species	Sousa sahulensis	Theodoxus fluviatilis

Evolutionary Relationship

Australian humpback dolphin and common freshwater nerite share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Australian humpback dolphin

VU — Vulnerable

common freshwater nerite

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Australian humpback dolphin	common freshwater nerite
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Australian humpback dolphin

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

common freshwater nerite

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Found across Europe (11 countries).

Australian humpback dolphin

The Australian humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis) is a species in the genus Sousa. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

common freshwater nerite

<em>Theodoxus fluviatilis</em>, commonly known as the common freshwater nerite, is a small aquatic gastropod mollusc belonging to the family Neritidae. This species is widely distributed across Europe, with documented occurrences in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden. It typically inhabits freshwater environments, including rivers, streams, and lakes, where it grazes on algae and biofilm on hard substrates such as rocks and submerged wood. The common freshwater nerite is assessed as Least Concern on conservation metrics, reflecting its broad distribution and relatively stable populations across much of its European range. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. <em>Theodoxus fluviatilis</em> plays an ecological role as a grazer in freshwater benthic communities, contributing to the regulation of algal growth on hard surfaces. The species typically favors clean, well-oxygenated waters and can serve as an indicator of water quality in freshwater systems. Its distinctive small, dome-shaped shell with variable patterning makes it recognizable among freshwater invertebrates.