Dark-Spored Puffball vs Heath Puffball

Lycoperdon atropurpureum compared with Lycoperdon ericaeum

Key Differences

• Dark-Spored Puffball is Endangered while Heath Puffball is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Dark-Spored Puffball	Heath Puffball
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family same	Lycoperdaceae	Lycoperdaceae
Genus same	Lycoperdon	Lycoperdon
Species	Lycoperdon atropurpureum	Lycoperdon ericaeum

Evolutionary Relationship

Dark-Spored Puffball and Heath Puffball share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Lycoperdon.

Conservation Status

Dark-Spored Puffball

EN — Endangered

Heath Puffball

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Dark-Spored Puffball	Heath Puffball
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Dark-Spored Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Heath Puffball

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden