Clouded Agaric vs Marbled polecat

Clitocybe nebularis compared with Vormela peregusna

Key Differences

• Clouded Agaric is Least Concern while Marbled polecat is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clouded Agaric	Marbled polecat
Kingdom	Fungi (mantar)	Animalia (hayvan)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Bazitli mantarlar)	Chordata (Kordalılar)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (memeliler)
Order	Agaricales (Lamelli mantarlar)	Carnivora (etçiller)
Family	Tricholomataceae	Mustelidae (Weasels & Otters)
Genus	Clitocybe	Vormela
Species	Clitocybe nebularis	Vormela peregusna

Conservation Status

Clouded Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Marbled polecat

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clouded Agaric	Marbled polecat
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.

Marbled polecat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Ukraine. Currently classified as Vulnerable 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.