Double-crested Cormorant vs Giant Otter

Phalacrocorax auritus compared with Pteronura brasiliensis

Key Differences

• Double-crested Cormorant is Least Concern while Giant Otter is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Double-crested Cormorant	Giant Otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Suliformes (Suliformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Phalacrocoracidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Phalacrocorax	Pteronura
Species	Phalacrocorax auritus	Pteronura brasiliensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Double-crested Cormorant and Giant Otter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Double-crested Cormorant

LC — Least Concern

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Double-crested Cormorant	Giant Otter
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Double-crested Cormorant

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia).

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.

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) 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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia