Common corncockle vs Gray Field Slug

Agrostemma githago compared with Deroceras reticulatum

Key Differences

Common corncockle is Critically Endangered while Gray Field Slug is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common corncockle	Gray Field Slug
Kingdom	Plantae (نباتات)	Animalia (حيوانات)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (كاسيات البذور)	Mollusca (رخويات)
Class	Magnoliopsida (ماغنولانية)	Gastropoda (بطنيات القدم)
Order	Caryophyllales (قرنفليات)	Stylommatophora (عاموديات العيون)
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Agriolimacidae
Genus	Agrostemma	Deroceras
Species	Agrostemma githago	Deroceras reticulatum

Conservation Status

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Gray Field Slug

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common corncockle	Gray Field Slug
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common corncockle

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Gray Field Slug

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Indomalayan biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Israel, Sri Lanka, Taiwan), Europe (11 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (4 countries).

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.