Limestone Waxcap vs Pacific Spiny-rat

Hygrocybe calciphila compared with Proechimys decumanus

Key Differences

• Limestone Waxcap is Vulnerable while Pacific Spiny-rat is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Limestone Waxcap	Pacific Spiny-rat
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Hygrophoraceae	Echimyidae
Genus	Hygrocybe	Proechimys
Species	Hygrocybe calciphila	Proechimys decumanus

Conservation Status

Limestone Waxcap

VU — Vulnerable

Pacific Spiny-rat

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Limestone Waxcap	Pacific Spiny-rat
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.

Pacific Spiny-rat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

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