vs Giant Otter

Cylindrotheca closterium compared with Pteronura brasiliensis

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Giant Otter is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Giant Otter
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Bacillariophyceae (Bacillariophyceae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Bacillariales (Bacillariales)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Bacillariaceae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Cylindrotheca	Pteronura
Species	Cylindrotheca closterium	Pteronura brasiliensis

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and South America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Norway, Oman, Sweden, and Taiwan.

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.

Cylindrotheca closterium is an elongated, needle-shaped marine and brackish water diatom common in coastal sediments, intertidal mudflats, and benthic biofilms worldwide. Its spindle-shaped silica frustule tapers to fine points at both ends. This species is an important primary producer in estuarine and shallow coastal ecosystems and can form dense mats on sediment surfaces.