vs common sea hare

Clitocybe subalutacea compared with Aplysia punctata

Key Differences

• is Data Deficient while common sea hare is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		common sea hare
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Mollusca (Mollusks)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Gastropoda (Gastropoda)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Aplysiida (Aplysiida)
Family	Tricholomataceae	Aplysiidae
Genus	Clitocybe	Aplysia
Species	Clitocybe subalutacea	Aplysia punctata

Conservation Status

DD — Data Deficient

common sea hare

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		common sea hare
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

common sea hare

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial and aquatic habitats including forests and freshwater.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

Clitocybe subalutacea is a pale, leather-colored agaric fungus in the family Tricholomataceae found across temperate European woodlands and semi-open habitats. The species epithet subalutacea derives from Latin for 'somewhat leather-colored,' referencing the cap's pale tan to buff coloration distinguishing it from more purely white or grey species in the genus. It fruits in autumn among leaf litter in deciduous and mixed forests, occasionally in grassy woodland clearings, acting as a saprotrophic decomposer of accumulated organic matter. The fruiting body structure is characteristic of Clitocybe: a shallowly depressed to funnel-shaped cap, crowded decurrent gills, and a slender cylindrical stipe. Microscopic spore morphology and chemical reactions assist in confirming identity in this taxonomically complex genus. Like most Clitocybe species, C. subalutacea contributes to decomposer communities in temperate forests, where the collective activity of many fungal species drives litter breakdown and nutrient release, underpinning forest productivity and soil health across European woodland ecosystems.

common sea hare

<em>Aplysia punctata</em>, the common sea hare, is a large opisthobranch sea slug in the family Aplysiidae, order Aplysiida, found in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. This species typically inhabits shallow subtidal and intertidal zones with abundant macroalgae, feeding primarily on red and green algae — a diet that influences the color of the defensive purple ink it secretes when threatened. <em>Aplysia punctata</em> is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, capable of acting as both male and female during mating, and often forms mating chains involving multiple individuals. It can reach considerable size among European opisthobranch species, though body dimensions vary considerably with age and feeding conditions. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting stable populations across its coastal range. Biological traits for this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, including precise average data on lifespan, body length, weight, and detailed seasonal dietary patterns, though its general herbivorous feeding on macroalgae is well established.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden