American water shrew vs European otter

Sorex palustris compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• American water shrew is Least Concern while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	American water shrew	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (प्राणी)	Animalia (प्राणी)
Phylum same	Chordata (रज्जुकी)	Chordata (रज्जुकी)
Class same	Mammalia (स्तनधारी)	Mammalia (स्तनधारी)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Carnivora (मांसाहारी गण)
Family	Soricidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Sorex	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Sorex palustris	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

American water shrew and European otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (स्तनधारी)

Conservation Status

American water shrew

LC — Least Concern

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	American water shrew	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

American water shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States.

European otter

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.

American water shrew

The American water shrew (Sorex palustris) is a species in the genus Sorex. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

European otter

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.