Black-tailed Deermouse vs Clouded Agaric

Peromyscus melanurus compared with Clitocybe nebularis

Key Differences

• Black-tailed Deermouse is Endangered while Clouded Agaric is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-tailed Deermouse	Clouded Agaric
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Cricetidae	Tricholomataceae
Genus	Peromyscus	Clitocybe
Species	Peromyscus melanurus	Clitocybe nebularis

Conservation Status

Black-tailed Deermouse

EN — Endangered

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-tailed Deermouse	Clouded Agaric
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-tailed Deermouse

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Clouded Agaric

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and United States.

Black-tailed Deermouse

The Black-tailed Deermouse (Peromyscus melanurus) is a species in the genus Peromyscus. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Clouded Agaric

The clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis, syn. Lepista nebularis) is a large, robust saprotrophic mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae found across temperate broadleaved and mixed forests of Europe and North America. It produces pale grey to buff fruiting bodies with broad, wavy caps up to 20 cm diameter, crowded, slightly decurrent gills, and a stout stipe, typically emerging in large fairy rings or scattered groups in autumn woodland settings. The common name 'clouded' refers to the greyish, misty coloration of the cap surface. Though historically eaten in parts of Europe and considered edible when thoroughly cooked, C. nebularis is now known to contain toxic compounds and a heat-labile gastrointestinal toxin that causes illness in some individuals, and it is associated with documented poisoning cases. Its strong mealy odor is distinctive. The species is widespread and common across European deciduous forests, fruiting reliably in autumn and forming an important component of the saprotrophic fungal community responsible for decomposing accumulated leaf litter and organic matter in temperate forest ecosystems.