Common Spreadwing vs Emperor Penguin

Lestes sponsa compared with Aptenodytes forsteri

Key Differences

Common Spreadwing is Least Concern while Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Spreadwing	Emperor Penguin
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Arthropoda (สัตว์ขาปล้อง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Insecta (แมลง)	Aves (นก)
Order	Odonata (Odonata)	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)
Family	Lestidae	Spheniscidae (Penguins)
Genus	Lestes	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)
Species	Lestes sponsa	Aptenodytes forsteri

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Spreadwing and Emperor Penguin share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (สัตว์)

ดู: Kingdom: Animalia

Conservation Status

Common Spreadwing

LC — Least Concern

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Spreadwing	Emperor Penguin
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	20 years
Average Length	—	1.1 m
Average Weight	—	40.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Spreadwing

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Emperor Penguin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Spreadwing

Common Spreadwing (Lestes sponsa) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest penguin, emperor penguins stand up to 1.2 meters and weigh 45 kg, inhabiting the Antarctic continent in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They breed in midwinter darkness at temperatures below -60°C, with males incubating single eggs on their feet under a brood pouch for 65 days while females are at sea. Their huddling behavior — cycling individuals through the warm center of thousands-strong groups — is a masterclass in cooperative survival.