Caspian Shrew vs Clustered Domecap

Crocidura caspica compared with Lyophyllum decastes

Key Differences

• Caspian Shrew is Data Deficient while Clustered Domecap is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Caspian Shrew	Clustered Domecap
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Soricidae	Lyophyllaceae
Genus	Crocidura	Lyophyllum
Species	Crocidura caspica	Lyophyllum decastes

Conservation Status

Caspian Shrew

DD — Data Deficient

Clustered Domecap

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Caspian Shrew	Clustered Domecap
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Caspian Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Clustered Domecap

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil, Chile).

Caspian Shrew

The Caspian Shrew (Crocidura caspica) is a species in the genus Crocidura. It is currently classified as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Clustered Domecap

Lyophyllum decastes, the clustered domecap or fried chicken mushroom, is a robust saprotrophic or possibly mycorrhizal basidiomycete in the family Lyophyllaceae that produces large, densely clustered fruiting bodies at the base of dead hardwoods, stumps, or from buried wood and woody debris. The caps are grey-brown to tan, broadly convex to domed, often with wavy margins in crowded clusters. Gills are white to pallid, crowded, and sinuate. It is distributed across the northern hemisphere in broadleaf and mixed forests. L. decastes is edible and considered a choice food mushroom in parts of Europe and Japan, where its firm texture and mild flavor have earned it the English nickname 'fried chicken mushroom.' However, definitive identification requires care, as it can be confused with toxic lookalikes. Molecular studies have revealed that the concept of L. decastes may encompass multiple species or a species complex. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and is commonly encountered in autumn in temperate woodlands, parks, and roadsides across its wide range.