vs Clifton's Anguloa

Chroococcus turgidus compared with Anguloa cliftonii

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Clifton's Anguloa is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Clifton's Anguloa
Kingdom	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Cyanobacteria (Cyanobacteria)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Cyanobacteriia	Liliopsida (Monocots)
Order	Cyanobacteriales	Asparagales (Asparagales)
Family	Microcystaceae	Orchidaceae
Genus	Chroococcus	Anguloa
Species	Chroococcus turgidus	Anguloa cliftonii

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Clifton's Anguloa

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Clifton's Anguloa
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Clifton's Anguloa

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, wetlands, forests, and cultivated landscapes.

Chroococcus turgidus is a relatively large-celled species of cyanobacteria in the family Chroococcaceae, one of the more frequently cited and widely distributed members of the genus. Its specific epithet turgidus refers to the swollen or turgid appearance of its cells, which are notably rounded and plump. Chroococcus turgidus has been documented from freshwater habitats across a wide geographic range including Europe, North America, Asia, and other regions, reflecting its cosmopolitan distribution. The cells occur in pairs or groups of two to four within a stratified, often amber-brown gelatinous sheath. It is found in the plankton and periphyton of standing and slowly flowing freshwater bodies, on damp soils, and on submerged rocks and other surfaces. Chroococcus turgidus is one of the type or reference species frequently illustrated in classical treatises on freshwater algae and cyanobacteria. Its relatively large cell size compared to other Chroococcus species facilitates identification in microscopic preparations. The species contributes to primary production in freshwater ecosystems and is part of the diverse community of cyanobacteria that inhabit lentic and lotic freshwater environments. It has not been assessed by the IUCN.

Clifton's Anguloa

Clifton's Anguloa, Anguloa cliftonii, is a striking terrestrial orchid in the family Orchidaceae native to the cloud forests of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The genus Anguloa, known as cradle orchids or tulip orchids, is celebrated among orchid enthusiasts for its large, tulip-shaped, waxy flowers that rock gently when moved, simulating the movement of a bee—a presumed pollination adaptation. The flowers of Anguloa cliftonii are creamy white to pale yellow, often with pink or rose spotting, and are produced singly on erect peduncles arising from the base of large, pleated pseudobulbs. The plant is a cool-growing epiphyte or lithophyte found in humid montane forest at elevations between approximately 1,500 and 2,500 meters in the Andes. Anguloa species are pollinated by male euglossine bees attracted to fragrant compounds. The cloud forest habitats of the Andes are among the world's most biodiverse ecosystems and simultaneously among the most threatened, subject to deforestation for agriculture, cattle ranching, and coca cultivation. Many Andean orchid species are also threatened by over-collection for the horticultural trade. Anguloa cliftonii is cultivated in specialist collections and is the subject of conservation concern in its native range.