Limestone Waxcap vs Meller’s Mongoose

Hygrocybe calciphila compared with Rhynchogale melleri

Key Differences

• Limestone Waxcap is Vulnerable while Meller’s Mongoose is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Limestone Waxcap	Meller’s Mongoose
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Hygrophoraceae	Herpestidae
Genus	Hygrocybe	Rhynchogale
Species	Hygrocybe calciphila	Rhynchogale melleri

Conservation Status

Limestone Waxcap

VU — Vulnerable

Meller’s Mongoose

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Limestone Waxcap	Meller’s Mongoose
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Limestone Waxcap

Habitat

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

Range

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

Meller’s Mongoose

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.