European hamster vs meadow brown

Cricetus cricetus compared with Maniola jurtina

Key Differences

• European hamster is Critically Endangered while meadow brown is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European hamster	meadow brown
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Cricetidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Cricetus	Maniola
Species	Cricetus cricetus	Maniola jurtina

Evolutionary Relationship

European hamster and meadow brown share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

European hamster

CR — Critically Endangered

meadow brown

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European hamster	meadow brown
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

European hamster

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 8 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Russia, and Ukraine. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

meadow brown

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (40 countries).

meadow brown

meadow brown (Maniola jurtina) 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 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇷🇺 Russia 🇺🇦 Ukraine