Clouded Agaric vs Jirafa

Clitocybe nebularis compared with Giraffa camelopardalis

Key Differences

  • Clouded Agaric is Least Concern while Jirafa is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Clouded Agaric Jirafa
Kingdom Fungi (Fungi) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Chordata (cordados)
Class Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms) Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms) Artiodactyla (artiodáctilos)
Family Tricholomataceae Giraffidae (Giraffes)
Genus Clitocybe Giraffa (Giraffes)
Species Clitocybe nebularis Giraffa camelopardalis

Conservation Status

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Jirafa

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~117.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Clouded Agaric Jirafa
Diet Herbivore
Average Lifespan 25 years
Average Length 5.5 m
Average Weight 1.2 t

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clouded Agaric

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan, and United States.

Jirafa

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Clouded Agaric

The clouded agaric (Clitocybe nebularis, syn. Lepista nebularis) is a large, robust saprotrophic mushroom in the family Tricholomataceae found across temperate broadleaved and mixed forests of Europe and North America. It produces pale grey to buff fruiting bodies with broad, wavy caps up to 20 cm diameter, crowded, slightly decurrent gills, and a stout stipe, typically emerging in large fairy rings or scattered groups in autumn woodland settings. The common name 'clouded' refers to the greyish, misty coloration of the cap surface. Though historically eaten in parts of Europe and considered edible when thoroughly cooked, C. nebularis is now known to contain toxic compounds and a heat-labile gastrointestinal toxin that causes illness in some individuals, and it is associated with documented poisoning cases. Its strong mealy odor is distinctive. The species is widespread and common across European deciduous forests, fruiting reliably in autumn and forming an important component of the saprotrophic fungal community responsible for decomposing accumulated leaf litter and organic matter in temperate forest ecosystems.

Jirafa

La jirafa (Giraffa camelopardalis) es el animal terrestre más alto de la Tierra, puede alcanzar 5,5 metros de altura y pesar hasta 1.750 kg. Su elongado cuello, que contiene las mismas siete vértebras cervicales que todos los mamíferos, evolucionó para alimentarse de acacias en sabanas y bosques africanos. Animal social que vive en manadas sueltas, se comunica mediante infrasonidos y lenguaje corporal. Clasificada como Vulnerable debido a la pérdida de hábitat y la caza furtiva.

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