Common Spreadwing vs European Ground Squirrel

Lestes sponsa compared with Spermophilus citellus

Key Differences

• Common Spreadwing is Least Concern while European Ground Squirrel is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Spreadwing	European Ground Squirrel
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Odonata (Odonata)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Lestidae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Lestes	Spermophilus
Species	Lestes sponsa	Spermophilus citellus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Spreadwing and European Ground Squirrel share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Common Spreadwing

LC — Least Concern

European Ground Squirrel

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Spreadwing	European Ground Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Spreadwing

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

European Ground Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ukraine. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Spreadwing

Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.