Gemeine Dornschrecke vs Schwertwal

Tetrix undulata compared with Orcinus orca

Key Differences

• Gemeine Dornschrecke is Least Concern while Schwertwal is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gemeine Dornschrecke	Schwertwal
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Insecta (Insekten)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Orthoptera (Heuschrecken)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Tetrigidae	Delphinidae (Oceanic Dolphins)
Genus	Tetrix	Orcinus (Orcas)
Species	Tetrix undulata	Orcinus orca

Evolutionary Relationship

Gemeine Dornschrecke and Schwertwal share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Tier)

Conservation Status

Gemeine Dornschrecke

LC — Least Concern

Schwertwal

DD — Data Deficient

Population: ~50.0K

Trend: Unknown ?

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gemeine Dornschrecke	Schwertwal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	50 years
Average Length	—	8.0 m
Average Weight	—	5.4 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gemeine Dornschrecke

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Schwertwal

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Gemeine Dornschrecke

The common groundhopper, <em>Tetrix undulata</em>, is a small insect belonging to the order Orthoptera, family Tetrigidae. This species has an exceptionally broad ecological tolerance and is typically found across virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitat types within its range. Its distribution spans Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden, reflecting a wide presence across northern and western Europe. Unlike most grasshoppers, groundhoppers typically lack fully developed hind wings in some individuals and are often found on bare ground, mossy substrates, and near water margins. <em>Tetrix undulata</em> is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating stable populations across its European range. No dietary information has been provided for this species. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Schwertwal

The largest member of the dolphin family, orcas reach up to 9 meters and 6 tonnes and are found in every ocean from Arctic to Antarctic. Apex predators living in matrilineal pods with distinct dialects, hunting strategies, and cultural traditions that differ between populations. Some populations specialize in fish, others in marine mammals. No natural predators; orcas sit at the top of every marine food chain they inhabit.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden