Cramp Balls vs European Ground Squirrel

Daldinia concentrica compared with Spermophilus citellus

Key Differences

• Cramp Balls is Vulnerable while European Ground Squirrel is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cramp Balls	European Ground Squirrel
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Xylariales (Xylariales)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Hypoxylaceae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Daldinia	Spermophilus
Species	Daldinia concentrica	Spermophilus citellus

Conservation Status

Cramp Balls

VU — Vulnerable

European Ground Squirrel

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cramp Balls	European Ground Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cramp Balls

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

European Ground Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

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