Anchovy-Eater vs Branched Moonwort

Carcharodon carcharias compared with Botrychium matricariifolium

Key Differences

Anchovy-Eater is Vulnerable while Branched Moonwort is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Anchovy-Eater	Branched Moonwort
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Chondrichthyes (Cartilaginous Fish)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks)	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)
Family	Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks)	Ophioglossaceae
Genus	Carcharodon (Great White Sharks)	Botrychium
Species	Carcharodon carcharias	Botrychium matricariifolium

Conservation Status

Anchovy-Eater

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~3.5K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Branched Moonwort

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Anchovy-Eater	Branched Moonwort
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	70 years	—
Average Length	5.0 m	—
Average Weight	1.1 t	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Anchovy-Eater

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, and temperate grasslands and steppes, among 9 distinct biome types spanning the Indomalayan and Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Chile, Norway, Portugal, and Taiwan. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Branched Moonwort

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Anchovy-Eater

The largest predatory fish on Earth, great white sharks can reach 6 meters and 2,000 kg, inhabiting cool coastal and offshore waters in all major oceans. Apex predators employing ambush attacks from below, primarily on marine mammals, large fish, and seabirds. Despite their fearsome reputation, unprovoked attacks on humans are extremely rare. Vulnerable, with populations declining from finning, bycatch, and targeted fishing despite legal protections in many jurisdictions.

Branched Moonwort

The Branched moonwort (Botrychium matricariifolium) is a species in the genus Botrychium. It is currently classified as Extinct on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.