Common Stinkhorn vs Polar bear

Phallus impudicus compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

Common Stinkhorn is Least Concern while Polar bear is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Stinkhorn	Polar bear
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Phallales (Phallales)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Phallaceae	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Phallus	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Phallus impudicus	Ursus maritimus

Conservation Status

Common Stinkhorn

LC — Least Concern

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Stinkhorn	Polar bear
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	25 years
Average Length	—	2.4 m
Average Weight	—	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Stinkhorn

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States).

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Stinkhorn

<em>Phallus impudicus</em>, commonly known as the common stinkhorn, is a basidiomycete fungus belonging to the family Phallaceae within the order Phallales. It is widely distributed across Europe and North America, typically found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, gardens, and areas with rich organic soil. The fungus emerges from an egg-like structure partially buried in the substrate, rapidly developing a spongy, white stalk topped with a dark olive-green gleba that produces a powerful fetid odor resembling rotting flesh. This smell typically attracts flies and other insects, which disperse the spores. <em>Phallus impudicus</em> is saprotrophic, obtaining nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter, and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems. Biological traits such as average lifespan, precise dimensions under field conditions, and detailed dietary preferences remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its broad distribution and apparent population stability across its native range. It has no known significant threats at the global level.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.