common vole vs Giant Otter

Microtus arvalis compared with Pteronura brasiliensis

Key Differences

• common vole is Near Threatened while Giant Otter is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	common vole	Giant Otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Cricetidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Microtus	Pteronura
Species	Microtus arvalis	Pteronura brasiliensis

Evolutionary Relationship

common vole and Giant Otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

common vole

NT — Near Threatened

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	common vole	Giant Otter
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

common vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Giant Otter

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

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

common vole

common vole (Microtus arvalis) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.