Brook Floater vs Least Puffball

Alasmidonta varicosa compared with Bovista limosa

Key Differences

• Brook Floater is Vulnerable while Least Puffball is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Brook Floater	Least Puffball
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Mollusca (Mollusks)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Bivalvia (Bivalvia)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Unionida (Unionida)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Unionidae	Lycoperdaceae
Genus	Alasmidonta	Bovista
Species	Alasmidonta varicosa	Bovista limosa

Conservation Status

Brook Floater

VU — Vulnerable

Least Puffball

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Brook Floater	Least Puffball
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brook Floater

Habitat

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

Range

Found in United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Least Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

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

Brook Floater

The Brook Floater (Alasmidonta varicosa) is a species in the genus Alasmidonta. It is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Native to North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.