Arctic skate vs European otter

Amblyraja hyperborea compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Arctic skate is Least Concern while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Arctic skate	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (hewan)	Animalia (hewan)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Mammalia (mamalia)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Rajidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Amblyraja	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Amblyraja hyperborea	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Arctic skate and European otter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Arctic skate

LC — Least Concern

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Arctic skate	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Arctic skate

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Norway.

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.

Arctic skate

The Arctic skate (Amblyraja hyperborea) is a species in the genus Amblyraja. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway