Lion Shield vs Sooty Shield

Pluteus leoninus compared with Pluteus ephebeus

Key Differences

• Lion Shield is Vulnerable while Sooty Shield is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Lion Shield	Sooty Shield
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	Pluteaceae	Pluteaceae
Genus same	Pluteus	Pluteus
Species	Pluteus leoninus	Pluteus ephebeus

Evolutionary Relationship

Lion Shield and Sooty Shield share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Pluteus.

Conservation Status

Lion Shield

VU — Vulnerable

Sooty Shield

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Lion Shield	Sooty Shield
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Lion Shield

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), and North America (United States). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Sooty Shield

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden