Least Adder's-tongue vs Small Adder's-Tongue

Ophioglossum lusitanicum compared with Ophioglossum azoricum

Key Differences

• Least Adder's-tongue is Least Concern while Small Adder's-Tongue is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Least Adder's-tongue	Small Adder's-Tongue
Kingdom same	Plantae (พืช)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum same	Tracheophyta	Tracheophyta
Class same	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)	Polypodiopsida (Polypodiopsida)
Order same	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)	Ophioglossales (Ophioglossales)
Family same	Ophioglossaceae	Ophioglossaceae
Genus same	Ophioglossum	Ophioglossum
Species	Ophioglossum lusitanicum	Ophioglossum azoricum

Evolutionary Relationship

Least Adder's-tongue and Small Adder's-Tongue share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ophioglossum.

Conservation Status

Least Adder's-tongue

LC — Least Concern

Small Adder's-Tongue

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Least Adder's-tongue	Small Adder's-Tongue
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Least Adder's-tongue

Habitat

Typically found in moist, shaded forest floors and tropical canopies.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Portugal.

Small Adder's-Tongue

Habitat

Inhabits boreal forests and taiga within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal