Giant Otter vs small tortoiseshell

Pteronura brasiliensis compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Giant Otter is Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Giant Otter	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Pteronura	Aglais
Species	Pteronura brasiliensis	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Giant Otter and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Giant Otter

EN — Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Giant Otter	small tortoiseshell
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.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.