Birchbark Dot Lichen vs Cluster Bat

Leptorhaphis epidermidis compared with Myotis sodalis

Key Differences

Birchbark Dot Lichen is Least Concern while Cluster Bat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Birchbark Dot Lichen	Cluster Bat
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Dothideomycetes (Dothideomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Pleosporales (Pleosporales)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Naetrocymbaceae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Leptorhaphis	Myotis
Species	Leptorhaphis epidermidis	Myotis sodalis

Conservation Status

Birchbark Dot Lichen

LC — Least Concern

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Birchbark Dot Lichen	Cluster Bat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Birchbark Dot Lichen

Habitat

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

Range

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

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Birchbark Dot Lichen

The Birchbark Dot Lichen (Leptorhaphis epidermidis) is a species in the genus Leptorhaphis. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Cluster Bat

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.