Big Finner vs Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee

Balaenoptera physalus compared with Megachile centuncularis

Key Differences

• Big Finner is Endangered while Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Finner	Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Megachilidae
Genus	Balaenoptera (Rorquals)	Megachile
Species	Balaenoptera physalus	Megachile centuncularis

Evolutionary Relationship

Big Finner and Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Big Finner

EN — Endangered

Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Finner	Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big Finner

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Patchwork Leaf-Cutter Bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Big Finner

Big Finner (Balaenoptera physalus) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden