Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai vs Otter, Fischotter

Apristurus melanoasper compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai is Least Concern while Otter, Fischotter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai	Otter, Fischotter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Chondrichthyes (Knorpelfische)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Carcharhiniformes (Grundhaie)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Scyliorhinidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Apristurus	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Apristurus melanoasper	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai and Otter, Fischotter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordatiere)

Conservation Status

Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai

LC — Least Concern

Otter, Fischotter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai	Otter, Fischotter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai

Habitat

Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

Otter, Fischotter

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.

Schwarzer Tiefwasserkatzenhai

The Black roughscale catshark (Apristurus melanoasper) is a species in the genus Apristurus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in marine environments from coastal waters to deep ocean.

Otter, Fischotter

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.