Crowned Earthstar vs Emperor Penguin

Geastrum coronatum compared with Aptenodytes forsteri

Key Differences

• Crowned Earthstar is Critically Endangered while Emperor Penguin is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Crowned Earthstar	Emperor Penguin
Kingdom	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Aves (นก)
Order	Geastrales (Geastrales)	Sphenisciformes (Penguins)
Family	Geastraceae	Spheniscidae (Penguins)
Genus	Geastrum	Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)
Species	Geastrum coronatum	Aptenodytes forsteri

Conservation Status

Crowned Earthstar

CR — Critically Endangered

Emperor Penguin

NT — Near Threatened

Population: ~595.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Crowned Earthstar	Emperor Penguin
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	20 years
Average Length	—	1.1 m
Average Weight	—	40.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Crowned Earthstar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical 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

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Emperor Penguin

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Emperor Penguin

The world's largest penguin, emperor penguins stand up to 1.2 meters and weigh 45 kg, inhabiting the Antarctic continent in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth. They breed in midwinter darkness at temperatures below -60°C, with males incubating single eggs on their feet under a brood pouch for 65 days while females are at sea. Their huddling behavior — cycling individuals through the warm center of thousands-strong groups — is a masterclass in cooperative survival.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway