Chinese Shrew Mole vs European otter

Uropsilus soricipes compared with Lutra lutra

Key Differences

• Chinese Shrew Mole is Least Concern while European otter is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chinese Shrew Mole	European otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Soricomorpha (อันดับตุ่น)	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family	Talpidae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Uropsilus	Lutra (Otters)
Species	Uropsilus soricipes	Lutra lutra

Evolutionary Relationship

Chinese Shrew Mole and European otter share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)

Conservation Status

Chinese Shrew Mole

LC — Least Concern

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chinese Shrew Mole

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.

Chinese Shrew Mole

The Chinese Shrew Mole (Uropsilus soricipes) is a species in the genus Uropsilus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

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.