vs Japanese Weasel

Hydnellum compactum compared with Mustela itatsi

Key Differences

• is Vulnerable while Japanese Weasel is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Japanese Weasel
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Thelephorales (Thelephorales)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Bankeraceae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Hydnellum	Mustela
Species	Hydnellum compactum	Mustela itatsi

Conservation Status

VU — Vulnerable

Japanese Weasel

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Japanese Weasel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

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

Range

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

Japanese Weasel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Japan. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Hydnellum compactum is a stipitate, tooth fungus with a compact, brownish-orange to rusty-brown cap surface covered in spines on the underside. It grows on the forest floor in coniferous forests across Europe and parts of North America, forming ectomycorrhizal associations with trees. This fungus obtains nutrients by forming mutualistic partnerships with the roots of pine, spruce, and fir trees.