Pleated Foxtail Moss
Brachythecium laetum
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: (c) Blake Pagnier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Blake Pagnier
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Bryophyta
Class
Bryopsida
Order
Hypnales
Family
Brachytheciaceae
Genus
Brachythecium
Pleated Foxtail Moss belongs to the family Brachytheciaceae, order Hypnales, within the Bryopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pleated Foxtail Moss faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized woodland environments. Climate change and atmospheric pollution are altering the delicate moisture and chemical conditions this species requires, while urban development and intensive forestry practices continue to fragment and eliminate suitable habitat patches.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This moss species inhabits moist deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly on decaying logs, tree bases, and humus-rich soil in shaded forest understories. It typically occurs in temperate forest ecosystems with consistent moisture levels and minimal disturbance.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Pleated Foxtail Moss faces severe threats from habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized woodland environments. Climate change and atmospheric pollution are altering the delicate moisture and chemical conditions this species requires, while urban development and intensive forestry practices continue to fragment and eliminate suitable habitat patches.
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change altering moisture regimes
Forest fragmentation from development
Habitat loss from deforestation and land conversion
Intensive forestry practices
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). Pleated Foxtail Moss (Brachythecium laetum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pleated-foxtail-moss