Bad-smelling Alkanet vs Common Loon

Alkanna maleolens compared with Gavia immer

Key Differences

• Bad-smelling Alkanet is Critically Endangered while Common Loon is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bad-smelling Alkanet	Common Loon
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Boraginales (Boraginales)	Gaviiformes (Gaviiformes)
Family	Boraginaceae	Gaviidae
Genus	Alkanna	Gavia
Species	Alkanna maleolens	Gavia immer

Conservation Status

Bad-smelling Alkanet

CR — Critically Endangered

Common Loon

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bad-smelling Alkanet	Common Loon
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bad-smelling Alkanet

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common Loon

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Bad-smelling Alkanet

The Bad-smelling Alkanet (Alkanna maleolens) is a species in the genus Alkanna. It is currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Common Loon

<em>Gavia immer</em>, the common loon or great northern diver, is a large aquatic bird in the family Gaviidae, known for its haunting, yodeling calls across northern lakes. It is found in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States, breeding on freshwater lakes in boreal and subarctic regions and wintering along marine coastlines. The common loon is adept in aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments, though it is most highly specialized for diving, using its strong feet positioned far back on its body to pursue fish underwater. It typically feeds on fish, supplemented by crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates. Its striking summer plumage features a black-and-white checkered back and a deep black head with a characteristic white necklace pattern. The species has not been evaluated for IUCN conservation status. Common loons require clear, fish-rich lakes for successful breeding and are sensitive to water quality degradation and human disturbance at nesting sites. Their distinctive calls are emblematic of wilderness in North America and Scandinavia.