Delicate Thuidium Moss
Thuidium delicatulum
Thuidium delicatulum, also known as the delicate fern moss or common fern moss, is a widespread species of moss in the family Thuidiaceae. It is found in North and South America from Alaska to Brazil.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Rob Curtis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Rob Curtis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Hypnales
Family
Thuidiaceae
Genus
Thuidium
Delicate Thuidium Moss belongs to the family Thuidiaceae, order Hypnales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Thuidium delicatulum, also known as the delicate fern moss or common fern moss, is a widespread species of moss in the family Thuidiaceae. It is found in North and South America from Alaska to Brazil.
Delicate Thuidium Moss faces significant threats from habitat degradation and loss due to urbanization, agricultural expansion, and forestry practices that alter the moist, shaded microenvironments it requires. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature increases that can disrupt the delicate moisture balance essential for moss survival. Air pollution and acid deposition further compromise moss health by directly damaging plant tissues and altering substrate chemistry.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species typically inhabits moist, shaded forest floors, rotting logs, tree bases, and rocky substrates in deciduous and mixed woodlands. It requires consistently humid microenvironments with stable moisture levels and filtered light conditions.
Threats
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Habitat loss and fragmentation from urban development
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Forestry practices disrupting forest floor conditions
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
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
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). Delicate Thuidium Moss (Thuidium delicatulum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/delicate-thuidium-moss