Buckelwal vs common hydra

Megaptera novaeangliae compared with Hydra vulgaris

Key Differences

• Buckelwal is Vulnerable while common hydra is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Buckelwal	common hydra
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Cnidaria (Cnidarians)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Hydrozoa (Hydrozoa)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Anthoathecata (Anthoathecata)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Hydridae
Genus	Megaptera (Humpback Whales)	Hydra
Species	Megaptera novaeangliae	Hydra vulgaris

Evolutionary Relationship

Buckelwal and common hydra share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Buckelwal

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~80.0K

Trend: Increasing ↑

common hydra

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Buckelwal	common hydra
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	50 years	—
Average Length	15.0 m	—
Average Weight	30.0 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Buckelwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

common hydra

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Buckelwal

Among the most acrobatic of the great whales, humpback whales are renowned for their complex, haunting songs sung by males during breeding season — some lasting hours and evolving over time. Reaching 16 meters and 30 tonnes, they undertake the longest migrations of any mammal. Found in all oceans, humpbacks feed on krill and small fish using cooperative bubble-net feeding. Populations have largely recovered from historic whaling.

common hydra

<em>Hydra vulgaris</em>, commonly known as the common hydra, is a small freshwater cnidarian in the family Hydridae. Its conservation status has not been formally evaluated by the IUCN. The species is recorded from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, with its native range understood to encompass Europe broadly. It typically inhabits slow-moving or still freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, and streams, where it attaches to aquatic vegetation or submerged substrates. The common hydra is notable for its remarkable regenerative capabilities and has been the subject of substantial biological research. Diet information for this species is not available in current records. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden