Common corncockle vs red kangaroo

Agrostemma githago compared with Macropus rufus

Key Differences

Common corncockle is Critically Endangered while red kangaroo is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common corncockle	red kangaroo
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)	Diprotodontia (Marsupials)
Family	Caryophyllaceae	Macropodidae (Kangaroos)
Genus	Agrostemma	Macropus (Kangaroos)
Species	Agrostemma githago	Macropus rufus

Conservation Status

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

red kangaroo

LC — Least Concern

Population: ~11.5M

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common corncockle	red kangaroo
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	16 years
Average Length	—	1.6 m
Average Weight	—	85.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common corncockle

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including montane grasslands and shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

red kangaroo

Habitat

Typically found in grasslands, forests, and vegetated habitats.

Range

Found in Australia.

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

red kangaroo

The largest kangaroo and largest marsupial on Earth, red kangaroos can stand 2 meters tall and weigh 90 kg, inhabiting the arid and semi-arid regions of inland Australia. Highly adapted to harsh desert conditions, they can survive without drinking water for long periods by extracting moisture from vegetation. Powerful hind legs enable 9-meter leaps and speeds up to 70 km/h. Males engage in ritualistic boxing contests to compete for females.