Giant Otter vs Merida Small-eared Shrew

Pteronura brasiliensis compared with Cryptotis meridensis

Key Differences

• Giant Otter is Endangered while Merida Small-eared Shrew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Giant Otter	Merida Small-eared Shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Soricidae
Genus	Pteronura	Cryptotis
Species	Pteronura brasiliensis	Cryptotis meridensis

Evolutionary Relationship

Giant Otter and Merida Small-eared Shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (Mammals)

Conservation Status

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

Merida Small-eared Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Giant Otter	Merida Small-eared Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Merida Small-eared Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Venezuela.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇻🇪 Venezuela