Date Waxcap vs Gambian Sun Squirrel

Hygrocybe spadicea compared with Heliosciurus gambianus

Key Differences

• Date Waxcap is Endangered while Gambian Sun Squirrel is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Date Waxcap	Gambian Sun Squirrel
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Hygrophoraceae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Hygrocybe	Heliosciurus
Species	Hygrocybe spadicea	Heliosciurus gambianus

Conservation Status

Date Waxcap

EN — Endangered

Gambian Sun Squirrel

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Date Waxcap	Gambian Sun Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Date Waxcap

Habitat

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

Range

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

Gambian Sun Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.