Coastal Silver-stiletto vs Polluela pintoja

Acrosathe annulata compared with Porzana porzana

Key Differences

  • Coastal Silver-stiletto is Least Concern while Polluela pintoja is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Coastal Silver-stiletto Polluela pintoja
Kingdom same Animalia (Animals) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (artrópodos) Chordata (cordados)
Class Insecta (insecto) Aves (Birds)
Order Diptera (Diptera) Gruiformes (Gruiformes)
Family Therevidae Rallidae
Genus Acrosathe Porzana
Species Acrosathe annulata Porzana porzana

Evolutionary Relationship

Coastal Silver-stiletto and Polluela pintoja share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Coastal Silver-stiletto

LC — Least Concern

Polluela pintoja

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Coastal Silver-stiletto Polluela pintoja
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Coastal Silver-stiletto

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Polluela pintoja

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (5 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Coastal Silver-stiletto

Coastal silver stiletto (Acrosathe annulata) is a slender robber fly in the family Therevidae, native to northwestern Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Scandinavia. Adults are found on coastal sand dunes and sandy heathland, where they perch on bare sand to ambush small flying insects. Stiletto flies in the family Therevidae are characterised by a slender body, long pointed abdomen, and predatory habits; adults prey on a variety of small dipterans and other flying insects during warm, sunny periods. Larvae develop in sandy soil, where they are also predatory, feeding on other invertebrate larvae. Acrosathe annulata is a habitat specialist restricted to open, sandy coastal habitats with sparse vegetation—environments that have declined substantially across northwestern Europe due to dune stabilisation, recreational disturbance, and the cessation of traditional dune management. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern, though regional conservation bodies in the United Kingdom have flagged population declines. It is considered an indicator of high-quality coastal sand dune habitats and is monitored through national invertebrate surveys.

Polluela pintoja

El Polluela Pintoja (Porzana porzana) esta clasificado como En Peligro (EN) en la Lista Roja de la UICN. En alto riesgo de extincion en estado silvestre, con significativo declive poblacional y amenazas continuas para su supervivencia.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

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