Black-throated Mango vs Common Extinguisher-moss
Anthracothorax nigricollis compared with Encalypta vulgaris
Key Differences
- Black-throated Mango is Least Concern while Common Extinguisher-moss is Vulnerable.
Taxonomic Classification
| Rank | Black-throated Mango | Common Extinguisher-moss |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia (Animals) | Plantae (Plants) |
| Phylum | Chordata (Chordates) | Bryophyta |
| Class | Aves (Birds) | Bryopsida (Bryopsida) |
| Order | Apodiformes (Apodiformes) | Encalyptales (Encalyptales) |
| Family | Trochilidae | Encalyptaceae |
| Genus | Anthracothorax | Encalypta |
| Species | Anthracothorax nigricollis | Encalypta vulgaris |
Conservation Status
Black-throated Mango
LC — Least ConcernCommon Extinguisher-moss
VU — VulnerablePhysical Characteristics
| Attribute | Black-throated Mango | Common Extinguisher-moss |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | — | — |
| Average Lifespan | — | — |
| Average Length | — | — |
| Average Weight | — | — |
Habitat & Geographic Range
Black-throated Mango
Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.
Distributed across Colombia, Ecuador, Norway, and Venezuela.
Common Extinguisher-moss
Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.
Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.
Black-throated Mango
A large, striking hummingbird of tropical forests from southern Mexico to Argentina, black-throated mangos have dramatic sexual dimorphism — males display glittering black throat and breast with violet and green flanks and a bold purple tail, while females are white below with a central black stripe. Inhabiting forest edges, clearings, and gardens, they aggressively defend flowering trees. Males perform spectacular aerial display flights at treetop height. Listed as Least Concern across their broad neotropical range.
Common Extinguisher-moss
<em>Encalypta vulgaris</em>, the common extinguisher moss, is a acrocarpous moss in the family Encalyptaceae, classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, indicating a concerning decline in populations across parts of its European range. The species is documented in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal, where it is native to European calcareous habitats. <em>Encalypta vulgaris</em> typically grows on dry to moist calcareous rocks, soil banks, old walls, and disturbed ground with base-rich substrates, often in open or semi-shaded microhabitats. The common name refers to the distinctive elongated calyptra, a cap-like structure that covers the developing sporophyte and resembles an old-fashioned candle snuffer or extinguisher. The calyptra is persistent and fringed at its base, a diagnostic feature of the genus <em>Encalypta</em>. This moss is sensitive to nitrogen pollution and habitat disturbance, and its Vulnerable status reflects the loss and degradation of calcareous grasslands and rock habitats across Europe due to agricultural intensification, urban development, and changing land management. It plays a role in soil stabilization and moisture retention in the rocky and disturbed habitats it colonizes. Conservation of calcareous habitats is essential for maintaining populations of this and many other specialist plant and lichen species. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.
Related Comparisons
Nature FYI Family
Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.
Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia