vs Gambian Sun Squirrel

Echinoderma calcicola compared with Heliosciurus gambianus

Key Differences

• is Endangered while Gambian Sun Squirrel is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		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	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Echinoderma	Heliosciurus
Species	Echinoderma calcicola	Heliosciurus gambianus

Conservation Status

EN — Endangered

Gambian Sun Squirrel

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, 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.

Echinoderma calcicola is a medium-sized mushroom with a pale cap covered in dark, pointed scales and a similarly decorated stem, growing in calcareous grasslands and woodland edges in Europe. It is considered an indicator of ancient, species-rich calcareous habitats. Classified as Endangered, this species is severely threatened by agricultural intensification and loss of limestone grassland habitats.