Brown Cobblestone Lichen vs

Acarospora fuscata compared with Chrysolykos complanatus

Key Differences

Brown Cobblestone Lichen is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Brown Cobblestone Lichen
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Chromista (Chromista)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)
Order	Acarosporales (Acarosporales)	Chromulinales (Chromulinales)
Family	Acarosporaceae	Dinobryaceae
Genus	Acarospora	Chrysolykos
Species	Acarospora fuscata	Chrysolykos complanatus

Conservation Status

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Brown Cobblestone Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

Habitat

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

Range

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

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Brown Cobblestone Lichen

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

Chrysolykos complanatus is a freshwater chrysophyte microalga in the genus Chrysolykos, class Chrysophyceae. The species epithet complanatus — flattened or compressed — describes a lorica that is notably flattened in lateral view compared with the more three-dimensional forms of other Chrysolykos species. This flattened lorica morphology is the primary taxonomic character distinguishing C. complanatus from the angular C. angulatus and the boot-shaped C. calceatus within the small genus Chrysolykos. The loricate chrysophytes, including Chrysolykos, are characterized by cells enclosed within a species-specific outer case from which two flagella emerge — one directed anteriorly and one often wrapped around the cell — enabling swimming in aquatic environments. C. complanatus has been recorded from Norwegian and Swedish freshwater ecosystems, contributing to the known diversity of chrysophytes in cold Scandinavian lakes and pond habitats. These boreal and subarctic freshwater environments, often characterized by low pH, low nutrient concentrations, and high dissolved organic carbon from surrounding peat bogs, support characteristic chrysophyte assemblages in which loricate forms are frequently present. The species contributes to primary production as a photoautotroph and may supplement its carbon budget through bacterivory. Chrysolykos species are minor components of most phytoplankton communities and are not known to form blooms. C. complanatus has not been evaluated under IUCN Red List criteria and is listed as Not Evaluated.