European otter vs Yellow Dodder

Lutra lutra compared with Cuscuta campestris

Key Differences

  • European otter is Vulnerable while Yellow Dodder is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank European otter Yellow Dodder
Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Plantae (Plants)
Phylum Chordata (Chordates) Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class Mammalia (Mammals) Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order Carnivora (Carnivorans) Solanales (Solanales)
Family Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters) Convolvulaceae
Genus Lutra (Otters) Cuscuta
Species Lutra lutra Cuscuta campestris

Conservation Status

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Yellow Dodder

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute European otter Yellow Dodder
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.

Yellow Dodder

Habitat

Inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (22 countries), Asia (22 countries), Europe (33 countries), North America (Canada), Oceania and the Pacific (Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile).

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.

Yellow Dodder

No description available.

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