Dunlin vs Giant Otter

Calidris alpina compared with Pteronura brasiliensis

Key Differences

• Dunlin is Least Concern while Giant Otter is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dunlin	Giant Otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Aves (Birds)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Charadriiformes (Charadriiformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Scolopacidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Calidris	Pteronura
Species	Calidris alpina	Pteronura brasiliensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Dunlin and Giant Otter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Dunlin

LC — Least Concern

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dunlin

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

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.

Dunlin

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 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 2 countries:

🇨🇴 Colombia 🇻🇪 Venezuela