Bronze quoll vs European otter

Dasyurus spartacus compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

Bronze quoll is Near Threatened while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bronze quoll	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Dasyuromorphia (Dasyuromorphia)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Dasyuridae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Dasyurus	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Dasyurus spartacus	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Bronze quoll and European otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

View Class: Mammalia

Conservation Status

Bronze quoll

NT — Near Threatened

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bronze quoll	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bronze quoll

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.

Bronze quoll

The Bronze Quoll (Dasyurus spartacus) is a species in the genus Dasyurus. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.