Fly Agaric vs Smooth Map Lichen

Amanita muscaria compared with Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Key Differences

Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Smooth Map Lichen is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Smooth Map Lichen
Kingdom same	Fungi (فطر)	Fungi (فطر)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (دعاميات)	Ascomycota (فطريات زقية)
Class	Agaricomycetes (غاريقونانية)	Lecanoromycetes (لقنورانية)
Order	Agaricales (غاريقونيات)	Rhizocarpales (Rhizocarpales)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Rhizocarpaceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Rhizocarpon
Species	Amanita muscaria	Rhizocarpon hochstetteri

Evolutionary Relationship

Fly Agaric and Smooth Map Lichen share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Fungi. (فطر)

استعراض Kingdom: Fungi

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Smooth Map Lichen

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Smooth Map Lichen
Diet	Decomposer	—
Average Lifespan	1 years	—
Average Length	20 cm	—
Average Weight	100 g	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Fly Agaric

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia).

Smooth Map Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Fly Agaric

Among the most iconic and recognizable fungi on Earth, fly agaric mushrooms display striking red caps with white flecked warts across boreal forests of the Northern Hemisphere. Despite their fairy-tale appearance, they contain potent psychoactive compounds including muscimol and ibotenic acid and are moderately toxic. They form critical mycorrhizal symbioses with birch, pine, and spruce trees, exchanging mineral nutrients for carbon and playing essential roles in boreal forest nutrient cycling.