Heath Earwort
Scapania irrigua
Heath Earwort (Scapania irrigua) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive ear-shaped leaf lobes and reddish-brown to green coloration. This bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on acidic substrates and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized wetland ecosystems.
44
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Marchantiophyta
Class
Jungermanniopsida
Order
Jungermanniales
Family
Scapaniaceae
Genus
Scapania
Heath Earwort belongs to the family Scapaniaceae, order Jungermanniales, within the Jungermanniopsida class.
Species Profile
Heath Earwort (Scapania irrigua) is a small leafy liverwort characterized by its distinctive ear-shaped leaf lobes and reddish-brown to green coloration. This bryophyte forms low-growing mats or patches on acidic substrates and plays an important ecological role in nutrient cycling and providing microhabitat for invertebrates in specialized wetland ecosystems.
Heath Earwort (Scapania irrigua) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Climate change and hydrological alterations are disrupting the specific moisture conditions this bryophyte requires, while pollution and eutrophication further degrade water quality in its remaining habitats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Heath Earwort inhabits acidic, permanently moist soils in bogs, fens, and wet heathlands, typically growing on peaty substrates along stream margins and seepage areas. It requires consistent moisture levels and clean, mineral-poor water conditions characteristic of oligotrophic wetland systems.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Heath Earwort (Scapania irrigua) is declining primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of its specialized wetland environments. Climate change and hydrological alterations are disrupting the specific moisture conditions this bryophyte requires, while pollution and eutrophication further degrade water quality in its remaining habitats.
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Hydrological changes and water level fluctuations
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Water pollution and eutrophication
Recreational disturbance and trampling
Found in 44 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (EN).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | ENEndangered | 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). Heath Earwort (Scapania irrigua). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/heath-earwort