Broadnose cat shark vs European otter

Apristurus investigatoris compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Broadnose cat shark is Least Concern while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broadnose cat shark	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Scyliorhinidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Apristurus	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Apristurus investigatoris	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Broadnose cat shark and European otter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Broadnose cat shark

LC — Least Concern

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broadnose cat shark	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broadnose cat shark

Habitat

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

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.

Broadnose cat shark

The Broadnose Cat Shark (Apristurus investigatoris) is a species in the genus Apristurus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

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.