Wolf vs

Canis lupus compared with Lichenomphalia velutina

Key Differences

• Wolf is Critically Endangered while is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Wolf
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Carnivora (Raubtiere)	Agaricales (Champignonartige)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Hygrophoraceae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Lichenomphalia
Species	Canis lupus	Lichenomphalia velutina

Conservation Status

Wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Wolf
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered 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 Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Lichenomphalia velutina is a lichen-forming basidiomycete with a granular, algae-containing thallus and small, tan to yellowish-buff mushroom-like fruiting bodies. It inhabits mossy, peaty soils and acidic wet habitats in boreal and montane environments across northern Europe and North America. This unusual organism combines lichenization with mushroom production to obtain nutrients.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden