European polecat vs

Mustela putorius compared with Hyphoderma definitum

Key Differences

• European polecat is Vulnerable while is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	European polecat
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Polyporales (Polyporales)
Family	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)	Hyphodermataceae
Genus	Mustela	Hyphoderma
Species	Mustela putorius	Hyphoderma definitum

Conservation Status

European polecat

VU — Vulnerable

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	European polecat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

European polecat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (10 countries) and South America (Brazil, Colombia). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan.

European polecat

European polecat (Mustela putorius) is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List. Facing a high risk of endangerment in the wild, with declining populations and increasing habitat pressure.

Hyphoderma definitum is a corticioid fungus in the family Polyporaceae, assessed as Data Deficient (DD). It forms thin, resupinate fruiting bodies on decaying wood in forest habitats. Limited collection records make a comprehensive conservation assessment difficult.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden