Cramp Balls vs Hector’s Beaked Whale

Daldinia concentrica compared with Mesoplodon hectori

Key Differences

Cramp Balls is Vulnerable while Hector’s Beaked Whale is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cramp Balls	Hector’s Beaked Whale
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Xylariales (Xylariales)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Hypoxylaceae	Hyperoodontidae
Genus	Daldinia	Mesoplodon
Species	Daldinia concentrica	Mesoplodon hectori

Conservation Status

Cramp Balls

VU — Vulnerable

Hector’s Beaked Whale

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cramp Balls	Hector’s Beaked Whale
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.