Polar bear vs

Ursus maritimus compared with Xenasma rimicola

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polar bear
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Russulales (Russulales)
Family	Ursidae (Bears)	Xenasmataceae
Genus	Ursus (Bears)	Xenasma
Species	Ursus maritimus	Xenasma rimicola

Conservation Status

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polar bear
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	25 years	—
Average Length	2.4 m	—
Average Weight	450.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Habitat

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

Range

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

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Xenasma rimicola is a corticioid fungus in the family Xenasmataceae, assessed as Vulnerable (VU). It grows as a thin, resupinate crust on decaying wood in mature or old-growth forest habitats. Its vulnerable status reflects sensitivity to the removal of deadwood and disturbance of undisturbed forest ecosystems.