vs Cloud Forest Akodont

Chrysolykos complanatus compared with Akodon torques

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Cloud Forest Akodont is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Cloud Forest Akodont
Kingdom	Chromista (Chromista)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ochrophyta (Ochrophyta)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Chrysophyceae (Chrysophyceae)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Chromulinales (Chromulinales)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Dinobryaceae	Cricetidae
Genus	Chrysolykos	Akodon
Species	Chrysolykos complanatus	Akodon torques

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Cloud Forest Akodont

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Cloud Forest Akodont
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.

Cloud Forest Akodont

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.

Cloud Forest Akodont

Cloud forest akodonts are small rodents in the genus Akodon (family Cricetidae, subfamily Sigmodontinae) adapted to the cool, moist cloud forests of the Andean mountain chain in South America. These small mice, typically 15–25 g body weight, are among the most diverse rodent genera in the Neotropics, with dozens of species occupying a range of habitats from tropical lowland forest to high-elevation grasslands and cloud forest margins. Cloud forest species live in mossy, fern-rich undergrowth at elevations typically between 1,500 and 3,500 meters, where they forage for seeds, fungi, invertebrates, and plant material among dense vegetation and under fallen logs. Akodonts are important prey species for forest raptors, small cats, and mustelids, and serve as seed dispersers in cloud forest ecosystems. Many cloud forest akodont species have restricted ranges tied to specific elevation bands on individual mountain ranges, making them vulnerable to climate change-driven upslope habitat shifts that compress available habitat and may eventually eliminate suitable conditions on mountains of insufficient height.