Common Glasscup vs Giant Mole Shrew

Orbilia xanthostigma compared with Blarina brevicauda

Key Differences

• Common Glasscup is Not Evaluated while Giant Mole Shrew is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Glasscup	Giant Mole Shrew
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Orbiliomycetes (Orbiliomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Orbiliales (Orbiliales)	Soricomorpha (Soricomorpha)
Family	Orbiliaceae	Soricidae
Genus	Orbilia	Blarina
Species	Orbilia xanthostigma	Blarina brevicauda

Conservation Status

Common Glasscup

NE — Not Evaluated

Giant Mole Shrew

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Glasscup	Giant Mole Shrew
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Glasscup

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Giant Mole Shrew

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States.

Common Glasscup

<em>Orbilia xanthostigma</em>, commonly known as the common glasscup, is a saprotrophic fungus in the family Orbiliaceae. The species has been documented in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and is understood to have a broader distribution across temperate Europe. Fungi in the genus <em>Orbilia</em> are characterized by their small, typically pale or brightly colored, cup-shaped to disc-shaped fruiting bodies (apothecia) that form on decaying wood and plant matter. <em>Orbilia xanthostigma</em> typically grows on the surface of dead and decaying wood, including logs and fallen branches in forest and woodland habitats. The species is not currently evaluated for conservation status. As a saprotrophic organism, the common glasscup contributes to decomposition processes and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems by breaking down woody substrates. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The genus <em>Orbilia</em> is also notable within mycology for including species that are predatory on nematodes, though the dietary habits of <em>O. xanthostigma</em> specifically require further research.