gray wolf vs Tiny Earthstar

Canis lupus compared with Geastrum minimum

Key Differences

gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Tiny Earthstar is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Tiny Earthstar
Kingdom	Animalia (hewan)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Mammalia (mamalia)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Geastrales (Geastrales)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Geastraceae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Geastrum
Species	Canis lupus	Geastrum minimum

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Tiny Earthstar

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Tiny Earthstar
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray 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.

Tiny Earthstar

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

gray 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.