Bitter Waxcap vs Ontong Java Flying Fox

Hygrocybe mucronella compared with Pteropus howensis

Key Differences

• Bitter Waxcap is Near Threatened while Ontong Java Flying Fox is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Bitter Waxcap	Ontong Java Flying Fox
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Hygrophoraceae	Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)
Genus	Hygrocybe	Pteropus (Flying Foxes)
Species	Hygrocybe mucronella	Pteropus howensis

Conservation Status

Bitter Waxcap

NT — Near Threatened

Ontong Java Flying Fox

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Bitter Waxcap	Ontong Java Flying Fox
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Bitter Waxcap

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Ontong Java Flying Fox

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Bitter Waxcap

The Bitter Waxcap (Hygrocybe mucronella) is a species in the genus Hygrocybe. It is currently classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.