Aquatic Pelt Lichen vs Common Freckle Pelt Lichen

Peltigera hydrothyria compared with Peltigera aphthosa

Key Differences

• Aquatic Pelt Lichen is Not Evaluated while Common Freckle Pelt Lichen is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Aquatic Pelt Lichen	Common Freckle Pelt Lichen
Kingdom same	Fungi (Pilze)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)	Ascomycota (Schlauchpilze)
Class same	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)
Order same	Peltigerales (Peltigerales)	Peltigerales (Peltigerales)
Family same	Peltigeraceae	Peltigeraceae
Genus same	Peltigera	Peltigera
Species	Peltigera hydrothyria	Peltigera aphthosa

Evolutionary Relationship

Aquatic Pelt Lichen and Common Freckle Pelt Lichen share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Peltigera.

Conservation Status

Aquatic Pelt Lichen

NE — Not Evaluated

Common Freckle Pelt Lichen

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Aquatic Pelt Lichen	Common Freckle Pelt Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Aquatic Pelt Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and United States.

Common Freckle Pelt Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Aquatic Pelt Lichen

The Aquatic Pelt Lichen (Peltigera hydrothyria) is a species in the genus Peltigera. Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Common Freckle Pelt Lichen

<em>Peltigera aphthosa</em> is a foliose lichen in the family Peltigeraceae, order Peltigerales, commonly known as common freckle pelt or speckled felt lichen. This species holds the conservation status of Extinct on the IUCN Red List, representing a serious loss of biodiversity. <em>Peltigera aphthosa</em> has been recorded in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. Historically, this lichen grew in cool, humid environments including boreal and montane forests, typically on mossy ground, rocks, and tree bases in old-growth habitats. Like other members of the genus Peltigera, <em>Peltigera aphthosa</em> is a tripartite lichen containing a cyanobacterial photobiont (providing nitrogen fixation) in addition to the primary green algal photobiont and fungal mycobiont, making it an ecologically significant contributor to nutrient cycling. Its large, lobed thallus was characterized by distinctive dark cephalodia — wart-like structures housing the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. The extinction of this species underscores the vulnerability of lichens to habitat degradation, air pollution, and climate change. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States