Common Metad vs Ferny Azolla

Millardia meltada compared with Azolla pinnata

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Metad	Ferny Azolla
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Tracheophyta
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Salviniales (Salviniales)
Family	Muridae (Mice & Rats)	Salviniaceae
Genus	Millardia	Azolla
Species	Millardia meltada	Azolla pinnata

Conservation Status

Common Metad

LC — Least Concern

Ferny Azolla

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Metad	Ferny Azolla
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Metad

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Ferny Azolla

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including deserts and xeric shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas spanning the Palearctic and Oceanian realms.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (4 countries), Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan), North America (Mexico, United States), and Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Tuvalu).

Common Metad

The Common Metad (<em>Millardia meltada</em>) is a rodent belonging to the genus <em>Millardia</em> within the family Muridae. As a member of the Old World rats and mice, this species is typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems across its range. The Common Metad is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that its populations are currently stable and not facing immediate extinction risk. Detailed biological traits such as body length, weight, and lifespan have not been widely documented for this species in available records. Its taxonomy places it within the order Rodentia, which encompasses a broad array of gnawing mammals adapted to a wide variety of ecological niches. While specific dietary habits are not well characterized in the available data, members of the genus <em>Millardia</em> are generally understood to be omnivorous, feeding on plant material and invertebrates typical of their habitat. Ongoing monitoring is important for ensuring this species maintains its current conservation standing.