vs Cluster Bat

Chroomonas placoidea compared with Myotis sodalis

Key Differences

• is Not Evaluated while Cluster Bat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Cluster Bat
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Cryptophyta	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Cryptophyceae (Cryptophyceae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Pyrenomonadales (Pyrenomonadales)	Chiroptera (Bats)
Family	Chroomonadaceae	Vespertilionidae
Genus	Chroomonas	Myotis
Species	Chroomonas placoidea	Myotis sodalis

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Cluster Bat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Chroomonas placoidea is a species of cryptophyte alga in the family Chroomonadaceae, documented from freshwater and aquatic environments in Europe. The specific epithet placoidea may refer to a flattened or plate-like aspect of the cell morphology, from the Greek plakos meaning flat plate. Cryptophyte cells are frequently compressed or dorsiventally flattened, and small differences in cell shape and proportions are important characters for distinguishing species within the morphologically subtle genus Chroomonas. Chroomonas species are characterized by small cell size, typically ranging from five to twenty micrometers in length, with two flagella of unequal length arising from a ventral depression. The plastid occupies much of the cell volume and contains photosynthetically active pigments including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c, and phycobiliproteins. Chroomonas placoidea contributes to primary production in its freshwater habitat and is part of the diverse microalgal community of European lakes and ponds. Like other cryptophytes, it may engage in mixotrophy under some conditions. The species has not been assessed by the IUCN, consistent with the general treatment of microalgal organisms in conservation frameworks.

Cluster Bat

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.