Wachtelkönig vs Otter, Fischotter

Crex crex compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Wachtelkönig is Critically Endangered while Otter, Fischotter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Wachtelkönig	Otter, Fischotter
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Aves (Vögel)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Gruiformes (Kranichvögel)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Rallidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Crex	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Crex crex	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Wachtelkönig

CR — Critically Endangered

Otter, Fischotter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Wachtelkönig

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 8 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Wachtelkönig

Corn Crake (Crex crex) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden