Gambian Sun Squirrel vs

Heliosciurus gambianus compared with Usnea cornuta

Key Differences

• Gambian Sun Squirrel is Least Concern while is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gambian Sun Squirrel
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)
Family	Sciuridae (Squirrels)	Parmeliaceae
Genus	Heliosciurus	Usnea
Species	Heliosciurus gambianus	Usnea cornuta

Conservation Status

Gambian Sun Squirrel

LC — Least Concern

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gambian Sun Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Usnea cornuta is a fruticose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae, assessed as Near Threatened (NT). It forms shrubby, branching thalli that hang from tree branches and twigs, typically in humid forest environments. Like all Usnea species, it is highly sensitive to air pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide, making it a useful bioindicator of air quality.