European otter vs Polar bear

Lutra lutra compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Polar bear is 45.0x heavier than European otter.
• Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 10 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European otter	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (प्राणी)	Animalia (प्राणी)
Phylum same	Chordata (रज्जुकी)	Chordata (रज्जुकी)
Class same	Mammalia (स्तनधारी)	Mammalia (स्तनधारी)
Order same	Carnivora (मांसाहारी गण)	Carnivora (मांसाहारी गण)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Lutra (Otters)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Lutra lutra	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

European otter and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (मांसाहारी गण)

Conservation Status

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European otter	Polar bear
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	10 years	25 years
Average Length	1.0 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	10.0 kg	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway