vs Lion

Clitocybe subcordispora compared with Panthera leo

Key Differences

is Data Deficient while Lion is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Lion
Kingdom	Fungi (فطر)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (دعاميات)	Chordata (حبليات)
Class	Agaricomycetes (غاريقونانية)	Mammalia (ثدييات)
Order	Agaricales (غاريقونيات)	Carnivora (لواحم)
Family	Tricholomataceae	Felidae (Cats)
Genus	Clitocybe	Panthera (Big Cats)
Species	Clitocybe subcordispora	Panthera leo

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

Lion

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~23.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Lion
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	2.5 m
Average Weight	—	190.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Lion

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 7 distinct biome types spanning the Afrotropic and Neotropic and Oceanian realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Clitocybe subcordispora is a saprotrophic agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae, with the species epithet subcordispora likely referencing slightly heart-shaped or cordiform spores observed under microscopy, a feature useful in distinguishing it from other pale Clitocybe species. It inhabits temperate European forest floors, woodland margins, and grassy clearings, fruiting in autumn among leaf litter and humus. The fruiting body presents the characteristic Clitocybe form with a depressed to funnel-shaped pale cap, decurrent gills, and cylindrical stipe. Spore morphology is an important taxonomic character within this genus, and the slightly cordiform spore outline of C. subcordispora may reflect adaptation to specific dispersal modes or represent a plesiomorphic character within the clade. The species contributes to saprotrophic fungal diversity in European temperate forests, where dozens of Clitocybe species occupy slightly different ecological niches in the decomposition of leaf litter, woody debris, and soil organic matter, collectively driving the nutrient cycling processes essential to forest ecosystem function.

Lion

The largest wild cat in Africa, lions reach up to 250 kg and are the only social felids, living in prides across sub-Saharan savannas and grasslands. Males are distinguished by their iconic manes. As apex predators, they regulate herbivore populations and maintain ecosystem balance. Listed as Vulnerable due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.