Balkan Maple vs

Acer hyrcanum compared with Chrysococcus granulatus

Key Differences

• Balkan Maple is Least Concern while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Balkan Maple
Kingdom	Plantae (植物)	Chromista (色藻界)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (木兰植物门)	Ochrophyta (淡色藻门)
Class	Magnoliopsida (木兰纲)	Chrysophyceae (丽生菌纲)
Order	Sapindales (无患子目)	Chromulinales (色金藻目)
Family	Sapindaceae	Dinobryaceae
Genus	Acer	Chrysococcus
Species	Acer hyrcanum	Chrysococcus granulatus

Conservation Status

Balkan Maple

LC — Least Concern

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Balkan Maple
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Balkan Maple

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Balkan Maple

The Balkan Maple (Acer hyrcanum) is a species in the genus Acer. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Chrysococcus granulatus is a unicellular freshwater chrysophyte microalga in the genus Chrysococcus, class Chrysophyceae. The species epithet granulatus — granular or granulated — describes a textured surface on the lorica of this species, a feature visible under electron microscopy that contrasts with the smooth surfaces of some congeners. In the genus Chrysococcus, the lorica is a secreted outer covering enclosing the cell, and its surface texture, shape, and any projections or pores form the primary morphological characters distinguishing species from one another. C. granulatus has been documented from Norwegian and Swedish freshwater bodies, consistent with the strong Scandinavian research tradition in chrysophyte taxonomy. Scandinavian oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes are important reservoirs of chrysophyte diversity, harboring numerous species of Chrysococcus, Chromulina, Ochromonas, and related genera. Records from Brazil and Denmark extend the known distribution of C. granulatus, suggesting cosmopolitan or at least widespread dispersal capability through passive transport mechanisms such as wind, waterfowl, and hydrological connectivity. The species is a golden-brown phytoplankton organism with chlorophylls a and c and fucoxanthin carotenoids, enabling photosynthesis in the limnetic zone. Like other Chrysococcus species, C. granulatus may supplement photosynthesis with phagotrophic uptake of bacteria. It has not been assessed under IUCN criteria and carries a conservation status of Not Evaluated. The species contributes to understanding freshwater chrysophyte taxonomy and biodiversity in Scandinavian aquatic ecosystems.