Bigeye thresher vs Brown-backed Needletail

Alopias pelagicus compared with Hirundapus giganteus

Key Differences

• Bigeye thresher is Endangered while Brown-backed Needletail is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bigeye thresher	Brown-backed Needletail
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks)	Apodiformes (Apodiformes)
Family	Alopiidae	Apodidae
Genus	Alopias	Hirundapus
Species	Alopias pelagicus	Hirundapus giganteus

Evolutionary Relationship

Bigeye thresher and Brown-backed Needletail share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Bigeye thresher

EN — Endangered

Brown-backed Needletail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bigeye thresher	Brown-backed Needletail
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bigeye thresher

Habitat

Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

Range

Distributed across Colombia and Taiwan. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Brown-backed Needletail

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway.

Bigeye thresher

The Bigeye thresher (Alopias pelagicus) is a species in the genus Alopias. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

Brown-backed Needletail

The Brown-Backed Needletail (Hirundapus giganteus) is a species in the genus Hirundapus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.