Giant Otter vs

Pteronura brasiliensis compared with Pyrenula nitida

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Giant Otter
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Eurotiomycetes (Eurotiomycetes)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Pyrenulales (Pyrenulales)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Pyrenulaceae
Genus	Pteronura	Pyrenula
Species	Pteronura brasiliensis	Pyrenula nitida

Conservation Status

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Giant Otter
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.

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Pyrenula nitida is a corticolous crustose lichen producing a smooth, glossy olive-green to brown thallus with embedded, flask-shaped perithecia on smooth bark of ancient broadleaf trees in humid Atlantic woodland. It is considered a flagship indicator species for long-continuity, old-growth woodland in western Europe. Endangered, this lichen is severely threatened by the loss of veteran trees and ancient woodland habitats.