Fly Agaric vs Polar bear

Amanita muscaria compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

  • Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
  • Fly Agaric is decomposer while Polar bear is carnivore.
  • Polar bear is 4500.0x heavier than Fly Agaric.
  • Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 1 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Fly Agaric Polar bear
Kingdom Fungi (Fungi) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Chordata (Chordates)
Class Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms) Mammalia (Mammals)
Order Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms) Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family Agaricaceae (Agarics) Ursidae (Bears)
Genus Amanita (Amanitas) Ursus (Bears)
Species Amanita muscaria Ursus maritimus

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Fly Agaric Polar bear
Diet Decomposer Carnivore
Average Lifespan 1 years 25 years
Average Length 20 cm 2.4 m
Average Weight 100 g 450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Fly Agaric

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia).

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Fly Agaric

Among the most iconic and recognizable fungi on Earth, fly agaric mushrooms display striking red caps with white flecked warts across boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite their fairy-tale appearance, they contain potent psychoactive compounds including muscimol and ibotenic acid and are moderately toxic. They form critical mycorrhizal symbioses with birch, pine, and spruce trees, exchanging mineral nutrients for carbon and playing essential roles in boreal forest nutrient cycling.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

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