Dark Shadow Lichen vs European Ground Squirrel

Phaeophyscia sciastra compared with Spermophilus citellus

Key Differences

• Dark Shadow Lichen is Data Deficient while European Ground Squirrel is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark Shadow Lichen	European Ground Squirrel
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Caliciales (Caliciales)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Physciaceae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Phaeophyscia	Spermophilus
Species	Phaeophyscia sciastra	Spermophilus citellus

Conservation Status

Dark Shadow Lichen

DD — Data Deficient

European Ground Squirrel

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark Shadow Lichen	European Ground Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark Shadow Lichen

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

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.