vs European otter

Diplotomma pharcidium compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

is Endangered while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		European otter
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Caliciales (Caliciales)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Caliciaceae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Diplotomma	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Diplotomma pharcidium	Lutra lutra

Conservation Status

EN — Endangered

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

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

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.

Diplotomma pharcidium is a crustose lichen with a greyish thallus bearing dark, lecideine apothecia on calcareous bark and rock. It inhabits old calcareous rock faces and weathered limestone in temperate European environments. This lichen is sensitive to air pollution and is found primarily in areas with low nitrogen deposition.

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.