Big Finner vs Smooth Map Lichen

Balaenoptera physalus compared with Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Key Differences

• Big Finner is Endangered while Smooth Map Lichen is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Big Finner	Smooth Map Lichen
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)	Rhizocarpales (Rhizocarpales)
Family	Balaenopteridae (Rorquals)	Rhizocarpaceae
Genus	Balaenoptera (Rorquals)	Rhizocarpon
Species	Balaenoptera physalus	Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Conservation Status

Big Finner

EN — Endangered

Smooth Map Lichen

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Big Finner	Smooth Map Lichen
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.

Smooth Map Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable 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 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden