Common Silver Hairgrass vs European otter

Aira caryophyllea compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

Common Silver Hairgrass is Endangered while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Silver Hairgrass	European otter
Kingdom	Plantae (식물)	Animalia (동물)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (피자식물문)	Chordata (척삭동물)
Class	Liliopsida (백합강)	Mammalia (포유류)
Order	Poales (벼목)	Carnivora (식육목)
Family	Poaceae (Grass Family)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Aira	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Aira caryophyllea	Lutra lutra

Conservation Status

Common Silver Hairgrass

EN — Endangered

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Silver Hairgrass	European otter
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	10 years
Average Length	—	1.0 m
Average Weight	—	10.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Silver Hairgrass

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 11 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe (6 countries), North America (4 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its 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.

Common Silver Hairgrass

<em>Aira caryophyllea</em>, commonly known as Common Silver Hairgrass, is a slender annual grass belonging to the family Poaceae within the order Poales. This delicate grass is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting significant conservation concern despite its historically broad distribution. It is typically found across a remarkable diversity of biome types, including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, savannas, and flooded habitats, demonstrating notable ecological versatility. Its geographic range spans multiple continents, with documented populations in Africa (Cameroon), Asia (Japan, South Korea), Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. As an annual grass, it completes its life cycle within a single growing season, reproducing via wind-dispersed seeds. The inflorescence typically bears silvery, shimmering spikelets that give the species its common name. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body dimensions, and dietary specifics follow typical patterns for annual grasses — drawing nutrients from soil through root absorption rather than consuming other organisms. The endangered status suggests populations may be declining due to habitat loss, land-use change, or invasive species pressure across parts of its range.

European otter

유럽수달(Lutra lutra)은 유럽과 아시아 전역의 깨끗한 강, 개울, 해안선에 서식하는 날렵한 반수생 족제비과 동물입니다. 체장 최대 1.3미터에 달하며 민감한 수염으로 먹이의 움직임을 감지해 물고기를 사냥하는 뛰어난 능력을 가지고 있습니다. 풍부한 물고기가 있는 오염되지 않은 물이 필요하여 담수 생태계 건강의 지표종으로 알려져 있습니다. 한때 사냥과 오염으로 서유럽에서 거의 멸종 위기에 처했지만, 수질 개선 이후 개체수가 크게 회복되었습니다.