vs gray wolf

Coelosphaerium aerugineum compared with Canis lupus

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while gray wolf is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		gray wolf
Kingdom	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Cyanobacteria (สาหร่ายสีเขียวแกมน้ำเงิน)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Cyanobacteriia	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Cyanobacteriales	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)
Family	Microcystaceae	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)
Genus	Coelosphaerium	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)
Species	Coelosphaerium aerugineum	Canis lupus

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

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

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

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.

Coelosphaerium aerugineum is a colonial planktonic cyanobacterium in the family Merismopediaceae, forming spherical to irregularly shaped gelatinous colonies in which individual cells are arranged in a peripheral layer surrounding a central mucilaginous matrix. Like other members of the genus, C. aerugineum is found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and slow-flowing waters of the temperate zone, including Scandinavia. Cyanobacteria are among the oldest life forms on Earth, contributing to oxygen evolution in ancient oceans, and continue to play fundamental roles in modern aquatic biogeochemistry through nitrogen fixation and primary production. Coelosphaerium species can form blooms under nutrient-enriched eutrophic conditions, although they are generally less notorious for bloom formation than genera such as Microcystis or Dolichospermum. The spherical colonial architecture provides some protection against grazing by zooplankton, while the cells contain gas vesicles that assist in vertical positioning within the water column. Distribution of Coelosphaerium aerugineum spans temperate freshwater habitats across Europe, including northern countries such as Norway and Sweden, where it occurs in lakes and reservoirs during warmer months. No formal conservation assessment has been undertaken for this species, as freshwater cyanobacteria at this taxonomic level are generally not evaluated by the IUCN.

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.