Coral Tooth Fungus
Hericium coralloides
Hericium coralloides is a saprotrophic fungus, commonly known as coral tooth fungus or comb coral mushroom.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium_coralloides
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Russulales
Family
Hericiaceae
Genus
Hericium
Coral Tooth Fungus belongs to the family Hericiaceae, order Russulales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Hericium coralloides is a saprotrophic fungus, commonly known as coral tooth fungus or comb coral mushroom.
Coral Tooth Fungus (Hericium coralloides) is critically endangered primarily due to the widespread loss and degradation of old-growth deciduous forests, particularly beech woodlands, which provide the specific dead wood substrates this saprotrophic fungus requires. The species has experienced severe population declines across Europe due to intensive forestry practices that remove dead and dying trees, habitat fragmentation, and the overall reduction in mature forest ecosystems.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
It is found throughout North America, Eurasia and Australia, growing on dead hardwood trees. It can be found from July to October in the east and November to March in the west.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Coral Tooth Fungus (Hericium coralloides) is critically endangered primarily due to the widespread loss and degradation of old-growth deciduous forests, particularly beech woodlands, which provide the specific dead wood substrates this saprotrophic fungus requires. The species has experienced severe population declines across Europe due to intensive forestry practices that remove dead and dying trees, habitat fragmentation, and the overall reduction in mature forest ecosystems.
Habitat fragmentation
Intensive forestry practices removing dead wood
Loss of suitable host trees (beech and other deciduous species)
Old-growth forest loss
Climate change affecting forest composition
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). Coral Tooth Fungus (Hericium coralloides). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/coral-tooth-fungus