Clouded Agaric vs European Ground Squirrel

Clitocybe nebularis compared with Spermophilus citellus

Key Differences

• Clouded Agaric is Least Concern while European Ground Squirrel is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clouded Agaric	European Ground Squirrel
Kingdom	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Rodentia (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)
Family	Tricholomataceae	Sciuridae (Squirrels)
Genus	Clitocybe	Spermophilus
Species	Clitocybe nebularis	Spermophilus citellus

Conservation Status

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

European Ground Squirrel

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clouded Agaric	European Ground Squirrel
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

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.

European Ground Squirrel

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ukraine. Currently classified as Endangered 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.