European otter vs foothill flat sedge

Lutra lutra compared with Cyperus amabilis

Key Differences

• European otter is Vulnerable while foothill flat sedge is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European otter	foothill flat sedge
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Poales (Grasses)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Cyperaceae
Genus	Lutra (Otters)	Cyperus
Species	Lutra lutra	Cyperus amabilis

Conservation Status

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

foothill flat sedge

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic 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.

foothill flat sedge

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Burundi, Guinea, Madagascar), North America (Cuba), and South America (Brazil, Colombia).

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.