Orange Tooth
EN

Orange Tooth

Hydnellum aurantiacum

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydnellum_aurantiacum

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Orange Tooth faces severe decline due to nitrogen pollution from agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition, which fundamentally alters soil chemistry in its preferred habitats. Forest fragmentation and intensive forestry practices have eliminated many suitable sites, while the species' extremely slow growth rate and complex mycorrhizal relationships make recovery particularly challenging. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels critical for fruiting body development.

Threat summary

Habitat

Orange Tooth occurs in old-growth and semi-natural coniferous forests, particularly those dominated by pine and spruce species on nutrient-poor, acidic soils. The species forms essential mycorrhizal partnerships with tree roots and requires undisturbed forest floor conditions with minimal nitrogen input to thrive.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Bankeraceae

EN

Rosette Tooth

Hydnellum cumulatum

Unknown
Mealy ToothVU

Mealy Tooth

Hydnellum ferrugineum

Unknown
Zoned ToothVU

Zoned Tooth

Hydnellum concrescens

Unknown
VU

Gold Tooth

Hydnellum auratile

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Orange Tooth classified as Endangered?
Orange Tooth is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Orange Tooth faces severe decline due to nitrogen pollution from agricultural runoff and atmospheric deposition, which fundamentally alters soil chemistry in its preferred habitats. Forest fragmentation and intensive forestry practices have eliminated many suitable sites, while the species' extremely slow growth rate and complex mycorrhizal relationships make recovery particularly challenging. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels critical for fruiting body development.
Where does Orange Tooth live?
Orange Tooth occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Orange Tooth?
The main threats to Orange Tooth are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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