Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos vs Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos

Tortella flavovirens compared with Tortella densa

Key Differences

• Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos is Endangered while Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos	Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Bryophyta	Bryophyta
Class same	Bryopsida (Bryopsida)	Bryopsida (Bryopsida)
Order same	Pottiales (Pottiales)	Pottiales (Pottiales)
Family same	Pottiaceae	Pottiaceae
Genus same	Tortella	Tortella
Species	Tortella flavovirens	Tortella densa

Evolutionary Relationship

Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos and Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Tortella.

Conservation Status

Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos

EN — Endangered

Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos	Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

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

Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Gelbgrünes Spiralzahnmoos

The Arisaig Crisp-moss, Tortella flavovirens, is a species. It is currently assessed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Dichtes Spiralzahnmoos

Clint Crisp-moss, Tortella densa, is a small acrocarpous moss in the family Pottiaceae found on exposed limestone pavement, cliff ledges, and calcareous rock outcrops in temperate Europe, with strongholds in the Yorkshire Dales, the Burren of Ireland, and similar karst landscapes. The common name 'clint' refers to the raised limestone blocks of limestone pavement habitats, and 'crisp-moss' describes the crinkled, crisped appearance of the dry leaf margins. When moistened, the leaves uncurl and spread, revealing the characteristic nerve extending to the leaf tip. Tortella densa forms dense, cushion-like or turf-forming colonies on exposed limestone surfaces and in sheltered grykes (the fissures between clints), tolerating periodic desiccation and temperature extremes. Limestone pavement is a rare and highly specialized habitat that supports a distinctive community of plants, mosses, liverworts, and invertebrates, and is legally protected in the United Kingdom and Ireland as a priority habitat under European conservation law. The loss of limestone pavement to quarrying, the covering of surfaces by soil and vegetation succession, and the removal of clint-surface plants by collectors have threatened specialist bryophytes of this habitat. Clint Crisp-moss is considered of conservation concern in Britain and Ireland.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden