Broad skate vs Coccora

Amblyraja badia compared with Amanita calyptroderma

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad skate	Coccora
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class	Elasmobranchii	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Rajiformes (Rajiformes)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Rajidae	Agaricaceae (Agarics)
Genus	Amblyraja	Amanita (Amanitas)
Species	Amblyraja badia	Amanita calyptroderma

Conservation Status

Broad skate

LC — Least Concern

Coccora

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad skate	Coccora
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad skate

Coccora

Habitat

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

Broad skate

The Broad Skate (Amblyraja badia) is a species in the genus Amblyraja. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is recognized for its ecological significance within its native range.

Coccora

The coccora (Amanita calyptroderma), also known as the California golden Amanita or the coccora mushroom, is a large, prized edible fungus in the family Amanitaceae, native to the Pacific Coast of North America from Oregon through California and into Baja California, Mexico. The species is especially associated with oak woodlands and mixed forests containing coast live oak, valley oak, and madrone, with which it forms ectomycorrhizal partnerships that are mutually beneficial—the fungus exchanges mineral nutrients for photosynthetically produced sugars from the tree's roots. The fruiting body is substantial and handsome: the cap ranges from pale yellowish-gold to rich orange-tawny, typically reaching 10–20 centimeters in diameter when fully expanded, with a smooth, sometimes patchy surface bearing remnants of the universal veil as scattered white patches. The gills are white and free from the stipe, and the base bears a large, sack-like volva from which the mushroom emerges—a characteristic Amanita feature. Despite belonging to the same genus as some of the world's most deadly mushrooms (Amanita phalloides, A. ocreata), the coccora is well-regarded by foragers in California, particularly within Italian-American communities who have long tradition of harvesting it. However, extreme care is essential, as it bears superficial resemblance to deadly species. The coccora is classified as Least Concern given its stable populations in western North American forests.