Polar bear vs Southern River Otter

Ursus maritimus compared with Lontra provocax

Key Differences

• Polar bear is Vulnerable while Southern River Otter is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polar bear	Southern River Otter
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order same	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family	Ursidae (Bears)	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Ursus (Bears)	Lontra
Species	Ursus maritimus	Lontra provocax

Evolutionary Relationship

Polar bear and Southern River Otter share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)

Conservation Status

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Southern River Otter

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polar bear	Southern River Otter
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	25 years	—
Average Length	2.4 m	—
Average Weight	450.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Polar bear

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. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Southern River Otter

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.