Gemeine Stinkmorchel vs Westlicher Gorilla

Phallus impudicus compared with Gorilla gorilla

Key Differences

Gemeine Stinkmorchel is Least Concern while Westlicher Gorilla is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Gemeine Stinkmorchel	Westlicher Gorilla
Kingdom	Fungi (Pilze)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order	Phallales (Stinkmorchelartige)	Primates (Primaten)
Family	Phallaceae	Hominidae (Great Apes)
Genus	Phallus	Gorilla (Gorillas)
Species	Phallus impudicus	Gorilla gorilla

Conservation Status

Gemeine Stinkmorchel

LC — Least Concern

Westlicher Gorilla

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~100.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Gemeine Stinkmorchel	Westlicher Gorilla
Diet	—	Herbivore
Average Lifespan	—	40 years
Average Length	—	1.7 m
Average Weight	—	160.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gemeine Stinkmorchel

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries) and North America (United States).

Westlicher Gorilla

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 4 distinct biome types within the Afrotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Cameroon, Congo (Republic), Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Gemeine Stinkmorchel

<em>Phallus impudicus</em>, commonly known as the common stinkhorn, is a basidiomycete fungus belonging to the family Phallaceae within the order Phallales. It is widely distributed across Europe and North America, typically found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, gardens, and areas with rich organic soil. The fungus emerges from an egg-like structure partially buried in the substrate, rapidly developing a spongy, white stalk topped with a dark olive-green gleba that produces a powerful fetid odor resembling rotting flesh. This smell typically attracts flies and other insects, which disperse the spores. <em>Phallus impudicus</em> is saprotrophic, obtaining nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter, and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems. Biological traits such as average lifespan, precise dimensions under field conditions, and detailed dietary preferences remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, reflecting its broad distribution and apparent population stability across its native range. It has no known significant threats at the global level.

Westlicher Gorilla

The world's largest primate, western gorillas weigh up to 180 kg and inhabit the tropical and subtropical forests of equatorial Africa. Primarily herbivorous, living in family groups led by a silverback male who protects the troop and mediates social conflicts. Critically Endangered, with populations threatened by deforestation, poaching for bushmeat, and outbreaks of Ebola virus disease.