Birch Jelly vs Common Seal

Exidia repanda compared with Phoca vitulina

Key Differences

Birch Jelly is Vulnerable while Common Seal is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Birch Jelly	Common Seal
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Auriculariales (Auriculariales)	Pinnipedia (Seals & Sea Lions)
Family	Auriculariaceae	Phocidae (True Seals)
Genus	Exidia	Phoca (Harbor Seals)
Species	Exidia repanda	Phoca vitulina

Conservation Status

Birch Jelly

VU — Vulnerable

Common Seal

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~500.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Birch Jelly	Common Seal
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	30 years
Average Length	—	1.7 m
Average Weight	—	80.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Birch Jelly

Habitat

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

Range

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

Common Seal

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Birch Jelly

The Birch Jelly (Exidia repanda) is a species in the genus Exidia. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Common Seal

The most widely distributed pinniped, harbor seals inhabit temperate and subarctic coastal waters of both the North Atlantic and North Pacific. Adults reach up to 130 kg and spend roughly equal time at sea hunting fish, squid, and crustaceans and hauling out on beaches or rocks to rest. Their large, expressive eyes are adapted for underwater vision in low light. Harbor seals are a critical food source for orcas, sharks, and polar bears.