Black Tooth
Phellodon niger
Phellodon niger, commonly known as the black tooth, is a species of tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae, and the type species of the genus Phellodon. It was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1815 as a species of Hydnum.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phellodon_niger
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Thelephorales
Family
Thelephoraceae
Genus
Phellodon
Black Tooth belongs to the family Thelephoraceae, order Thelephorales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Phellodon niger, commonly known as the black tooth, is a species of tooth fungus in the family Bankeraceae, and the type species of the genus Phellodon. It was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries in 1815 as a species of Hydnum. Petter Karsten included it as one of the original three species when he circumscribed Phellodon in 1881. The fungus is found in Europe and North America, although molecular studies suggest that the North American populations represent a similar but genetically distinct species.
Black Tooth (Phellodon niger) faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss of old-growth forest ecosystems essential for its mycorrhizal relationships. Climate change and air pollution are altering forest conditions, while logging and development fragment the mature coniferous forests this species depends on for survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Mature coniferous forests, particularly old-growth stands dominated by pine, fir, and spruce species where it forms essential mycorrhizal associations with tree roots. Typically found in undisturbed forest ecosystems with well-developed soil layers and stable moisture conditions.
Threats
Habitat fragmentation from development
Old-growth forest loss and logging
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change altering forest conditions
Disruption of mycorrhizal host relationships
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
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black Tooth (Phellodon niger). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-tooth