Коростель vs European otter

Crex crex compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Коростель is Critically Endangered while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Коростель	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (животные)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum same	Chordata (хордовые)	Chordata (хордовые)
Class	Aves (птицы)	Mammalia (млекопитающие)
Order	Gruiformes (Журавлеобразные)	Carnivora (хищные)
Family	Rallidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Crex	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Crex crex	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Коростель and European otter share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (хордовые)

Conservation Status

Коростель

CR — Critically Endangered

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Коростель

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 8 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically 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.

Коростель

Corn Crake (Crex crex) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.

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 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden