European otter vs gray wolf

Lutra lutra compared with Canis lupus

Key Differences

• European otter is Vulnerable while gray wolf is Critically Endangered.
• gray wolf is 4.5x heavier than European otter.
• gray wolf lives longer (13 years vs 10 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European otter	gray wolf
Kingdom same	Animalia (động vật)	Animalia (động vật)
Phylum same	Chordata (động vật có dây sống)	Chordata (động vật có dây sống)
Class same	Mammalia (lớp Thú)	Mammalia (lớp Thú)
Order same	Carnivora (bộ Ăn thịt)	Carnivora (bộ Ăn thịt)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)
Genus	Lutra (Otters)	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)
Species	Lutra lutra	Canis lupus

Evolutionary Relationship

European otter and gray wolf share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (bộ Ăn thịt)

Conservation Status

European otter

VU — Vulnerable

Trend: Stable →

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European otter	gray wolf
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	10 years	13 years
Average Length	1.0 m	1.6 m
Average Weight	10.0 kg	45.0 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.

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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.

gray wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

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