Hedgehog Puffball vs Pedicel Puffball

Lycoperdon echinatum compared with Lycoperdon caudatum

Key Differences

• Hedgehog Puffball is Endangered while Pedicel Puffball is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Hedgehog Puffball	Pedicel Puffball
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family same	Lycoperdaceae	Lycoperdaceae
Genus same	Lycoperdon	Lycoperdon
Species	Lycoperdon echinatum	Lycoperdon caudatum

Evolutionary Relationship

Hedgehog Puffball and Pedicel Puffball share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Lycoperdon.

Conservation Status

Hedgehog Puffball

EN — Endangered

Pedicel Puffball

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Hedgehog Puffball	Pedicel Puffball
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Hedgehog Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

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

Pedicel Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

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

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States