Dark-Spored Puffball vs Paradox Vole

Lycoperdon atropurpureum compared with Microtus paradoxus

Key Differences

• Dark-Spored Puffball is Endangered while Paradox Vole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark-Spored Puffball	Paradox Vole
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Lycoperdaceae	Cricetidae
Genus	Lycoperdon	Microtus
Species	Lycoperdon atropurpureum	Microtus paradoxus

Conservation Status

Dark-Spored Puffball

EN — Endangered

Paradox Vole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark-Spored Puffball	Paradox Vole
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark-Spored Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Paradox Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.