European otter vs Golden-rumped elephant shrew

Lutra lutra compared with Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

Key Differences

• European otter is Vulnerable while Golden-rumped elephant shrew is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European otter	Golden-rumped elephant shrew
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (cordados)	Chordata (cordados)
Class same	Mammalia (mamíferos)	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Carnivora (carnívoros)	Macroscelidea (Macroscelidea)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Macroscelididae
Genus	Lutra (Otters)	Rhynchocyon
Species	Lutra lutra	Rhynchocyon chrysopygus

Evolutionary Relationship

European otter and Golden-rumped elephant shrew share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (mamíferos)

Conservation Status

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European otter	Golden-rumped elephant shrew
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	10 years	—
Average Length	1.0 m	—
Average Weight	10.0 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.

Golden-rumped elephant shrew

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 5 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

European otter

Mustelídeo semiacuático de corpo esguio encontrado ao longo de rios limpos, riachos e costas da Europa e Ásia. A lontra-europeia (Lutra lutra) pode atingir 1,3 metros de comprimento e é uma caçadora de peixes altamente habilidosa, usando bigodes sensíveis para detectar os movimentos de suas presas. Necessitando de água não poluída com abundância de peixes, é uma espécie indicadora da saúde dos ecossistemas de água doce. Quase extinta na Europa Ocidental devido à caça e à poluição, as populações se recuperaram significativamente após melhorias na qualidade da água.