European polecat vs Northern Red-backed Vole

Mustela putorius compared with Myodes rutilus

Key Differences

• European polecat is Vulnerable while Northern Red-backed Vole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European polecat	Northern Red-backed Vole
Kingdom same	Animalia (动物界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same	Chordata (脊索动物门)	Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class same	Mammalia (哺乳動物)	Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order	Carnivora (食肉目)	Rodentia (啮齿目)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Cricetidae
Genus	Mustela	Myodes
Species	Mustela putorius	Myodes rutilus

Evolutionary Relationship

European polecat and Northern Red-backed Vole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (哺乳動物)

Conservation Status

European polecat

VU — Vulnerable

Northern Red-backed Vole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European polecat	Northern Red-backed Vole
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

European polecat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (10 countries) and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Northern Red-backed Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

European polecat

欧洲艾鼬（Mustela putorius）在IUCN红色名录中被列为易危（VU）物种。在野外面临高度危险风险，种群数量下降，栖息地压力不断增加。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden