Castor vs
Ricinus communis compared with Chrysolykos planctonicus
Taxonomic Classification
| Rank | Castor | |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae (Plants) | Chromista (Chromista) |
| Phylum | Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) | Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Dicots) | Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae) |
| Order | Malpighiales (Malpighiales) | Chromulinales (Chromulinales) |
| Family | Euphorbiaceae | Dinobryaceae |
| Genus | Ricinus | Chrysolykos |
| Species | Ricinus communis | Chrysolykos planctonicus |
Conservation Status
Castor
NE — Not EvaluatedPhysical Characteristics
| Attribute | Castor | |
|---|---|---|
| Diet | — | — |
| Average Lifespan | — | — |
| Average Length | — | — |
| Average Weight | — | — |
Habitat & Geographic Range
Castor
Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.
Widely distributed across Africa (33 countries), Asia (26 countries), Europe (23 countries), North America (15 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (14 countries), and South America (12 countries).
Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.
Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Castor
The Castor (Ricinus communis) is a species in the genus Ricinus. Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, flooded grasslands and savannas, and montane grasslands and shrublands, among 7 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and hi
Chrysolykos planctonicus is a planktonic chrysophyte flagellate in the genus Chrysolykos, a small genus of loricate or semi-loricate golden algae in the class Chrysophyceae. Like other Chrysolykos species, it inhabits the open water column of freshwater lakes and ponds, where its planktonic lifestyle is reflected in the specific epithet planctonicus. The cell is typically enclosed in a lorica or cellulose housing that may be less rigid than those of Chrysococcus species, with a flagellum extending through an apical pore. Chrysolykos species are photosynthetic and potentially mixotrophic, using chlorophylls a and c and fucoxanthin-type carotenoids for light energy capture. The genus is documented from Scandinavian freshwaters and other northern temperate lakes, where chrysophytes are often the dominant flagellated algae in spring and early summer. C. planctonicus contributes to primary production in oligotrophic and mesotrophic lake systems. The species has not been evaluated for conservation status by the IUCN and is listed as Not Evaluated. Chrysolykos is a less-studied genus than Chrysococcus or Mallomonas, and its ecology and phylogeny remain incompletely characterized.
Related Comparisons
Nature FYI Family
Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.
Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia