Alpine Water-moss
Fontinalis squamosa
Alpine Water-moss (Fontinalis squamosa) is an aquatic bryophyte that forms dense, dark green to brownish cushions in cold mountain streams and lakes. This moss species plays a crucial ecological role by providing habitat for aquatic invertebrates, stabilizing stream substrates, and contributing to nutrient cycling in alpine freshwater ecosystems.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Jenn Wren, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Jenn Wren
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Hypnales
Family
Fontinalaceae
Genus
Fontinalis
Alpine Water-moss belongs to the family Fontinalaceae, order Hypnales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Alpine Water-moss (Fontinalis squamosa) is an aquatic bryophyte that forms dense, dark green to brownish cushions in cold mountain streams and lakes. This moss species plays a crucial ecological role by providing habitat for aquatic invertebrates, stabilizing stream substrates, and contributing to nutrient cycling in alpine freshwater ecosystems.
Alpine Water-moss faces significant threats from climate change, as warming temperatures and altered precipitation patterns degrade its specialized cold-water habitats in mountain streams and springs. Water pollution from agricultural runoff and urban development further compromises water quality in its limited range, while habitat fragmentation isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Cold, fast-flowing mountain streams, springs, and waterfalls in alpine and subalpine regions, typically at elevations above 1000m. The species requires clean, well-oxygenated water with stable temperatures and grows attached to rocks and boulders in these pristine aquatic environments.
Threats
Climate change and warming temperatures
Water pollution from agricultural and urban runoff
Altered hydrological regimes
Habitat fragmentation and isolation
Recreational disturbance in alpine areas
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Alpine Water-moss (Fontinalis squamosa). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/alpine-water-moss