Big Finner vs Sharp-Scaly Pholiota

Balaenoptera physalus compared with Pholiota squarrosoides

Key Differences

• Big Finner is Endangered while Sharp-Scaly Pholiota is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Finner	Sharp-Scaly Pholiota
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Strophariaceae
Genus	Balaenoptera (Rorquals)	Pholiota
Species	Balaenoptera physalus	Pholiota squarrosoides

Conservation Status

Big Finner

EN — Endangered

Sharp-Scaly Pholiota

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Finner	Sharp-Scaly Pholiota
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Big Finner

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 4 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Sharp-Scaly Pholiota

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Big Finner

Big Finner (Balaenoptera physalus) is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. At high risk of extinction in the wild, with significant population decline and ongoing threats to survival.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden