African or Cape clawless otter vs European otter

Aonyx capensis compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• African or Cape clawless otter is Near Threatened while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	African or Cape clawless otter	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (動物)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum same	Chordata (脊索動物)	Chordata (脊索動物)
Class same	Mammalia (哺乳類)	Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order same	Carnivora (ネコ目)	Carnivora (ネコ目)
Family same	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Aonyx	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Aonyx capensis	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

African or Cape clawless otter and European otter share a common ancestor at the Family level: Mustelidae. (Weasels & Otters)

Conservation Status

African or Cape clawless otter

NT — Near Threatened

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	African or Cape clawless otter	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

African or Cape clawless otter

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

African or Cape clawless otter

The African or Cape clawless otter (Aonyx capensis) is a species in the genus Aonyx. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

European otter

ヨーロッパカワウソ（Lutra lutra）はヨーロッパとアジア全域の清流、渓流、海岸線に生息するスリムな半水生のイタチ科動物です。体長最大1.3メートルに達し、敏感なヒゲで獲物の動きを感知して魚を狩る非常に優れた能力を持っています。豊富な魚がいる汚染されていない水が必要で、淡水生態系の健全性の指標種として知られています。かつて狩猟と汚染によって西ヨーロッパでほぼ絶滅の危機に瀕していましたが、水質改善に伴い個体数が大幅に回復しました。