Compact Feather-moss
Conardia compacta
Compact Feather-moss (Conardia compacta) is a small, densely-growing bryophyte characterized by its distinctive feather-like branching pattern and compact growth form. This moss forms tight, cushion-like mats with delicate, pinnately arranged leaves that give it a feathery appearance.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) klips, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Hypnales
Family
Amblystegiaceae
Genus
Conardia
Compact Feather-moss belongs to the family Amblystegiaceae, order Hypnales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Compact Feather-moss (Conardia compacta) is a small, densely-growing bryophyte characterized by its distinctive feather-like branching pattern and compact growth form. This moss forms tight, cushion-like mats with delicate, pinnately arranged leaves that give it a feathery appearance. As a bryophyte, it plays important ecological roles in moisture retention, soil stabilization, and providing microhabitat for invertebrates and other small organisms.
Compact Feather-moss faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss due to logging, agricultural expansion, and urban development in its specialized forest environments. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature regimes that affect the delicate moisture balance required for moss survival. The species' limited dispersal ability and specific microhabitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to fragmentation of its forest ecosystems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Compact Feather-moss occurs in moist, shaded environments within temperate and boreal forests, typically growing on decaying logs, tree bases, and forest floor substrates. The species requires consistent moisture levels and low light conditions found in mature forest understories with stable microclimate conditions.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Habitat loss from logging and deforestation
Climate change affecting moisture regimes
Forest fragmentation reducing suitable habitat
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
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 | NTNear Threatened | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | NTNear Threatened | 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). Compact Feather-moss (Conardia compacta). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/compact-feather-moss