Dung-loving Bird's Nest Fungus
Cyathus stercoreus
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Overview
Cyathus stercoreus, commonly known as the dung-loving bird's nest or the dung bird's nest, is a species of fungus in the genus Cyathus, family Nidulariaceae. Like other species in the Nidulariaceae, the fruiting bodies of C. stercoreus resemble tiny bird's nests filled with eggs.
The fruiting bodies are referred to as splash cups, because they are developed to use the force of falling drops of water to dislodge and disperse their spores. The species has a worldwide distribution, and prefers growing on dung, or soil containing dung; the specific epithet is derived from the Latin word stercorarius, meaning "of dung".
The Dung-loving Bird's Nest Fungus faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and reduced availability of its specialized substrate - animal dung - as traditional grazing practices disappear. Modern farming practices, including widespread use of anthelmintic drugs in livestock that persist in dung and inhibit fungal growth, have further reduced suitable breeding sites for this highly specialized saprophytic species.
Habitat
Being coprophilous, C. stercoreus grows on dung, in soil with dung, and bonfire sites; it has also been recorded growing on sand dunes.
Other threatened species in Agaricaceae
Frequently asked questions
Why is Dung-loving Bird's Nest Fungus classified as Critically Endangered?
Where does Dung-loving Bird's Nest Fungus live?
What are the main threats to Dung-loving Bird's Nest Fungus?
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