Fatfoot Pocket-moss
Fissidens crassipes
Fatfoot Pocket-moss (Fissidens crassipes) is a small bryophyte characterized by its distinctive thick, fleshy stems that give it its common name. This moss forms compact cushions or mats with overlapping leaves arranged in two rows, creating the characteristic 'pocket' structure typical of Fissidens species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Dicranales
Family
Fissidentaceae
Genus
Fissidens
Fatfoot Pocket-moss belongs to the family Fissidentaceae, order Dicranales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Fatfoot Pocket-moss (Fissidens crassipes) is a small bryophyte characterized by its distinctive thick, fleshy stems that give it its common name. This moss forms compact cushions or mats with overlapping leaves arranged in two rows, creating the characteristic 'pocket' structure typical of Fissidens species. As a pioneer species, it plays a crucial role in soil stabilization and provides microhabitat for invertebrates in its specialized ecosystem.
Fatfoot Pocket-moss (Fissidens crassipes) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements, particularly in riparian and wetland environments where it occurs.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Fissidens crassipes grows on moist, shaded soil banks along streams and in ravines, particularly favoring calcareous substrates with consistent moisture levels. It is typically found in sheltered microsites where humidity remains high, such as the bases of limestone cliffs or protected areas near seeps and springs.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Fatfoot Pocket-moss (Fissidens crassipes) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat disturbance. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements, particularly in riparian and wetland environments where it occurs.
Agricultural encroachment
Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Water pollution and altered hydrology
Climate change and drought
Trampling and recreational disturbance
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | 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). Fatfoot Pocket-moss (Fissidens crassipes). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/fatfoot-pocket-moss