Chanterelle vs Cinnabar Chanterelle

Cantharellus cibarius compared with Cantharellus cinnabarinus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chanterelle	Cinnabar Chanterelle
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Cantharellales (Cantharellales)	Cantharellales (Cantharellales)
Family same	Hydnaceae	Hydnaceae
Genus same	Cantharellus	Cantharellus
Species	Cantharellus cibarius	Cantharellus cinnabarinus

Evolutionary Relationship

Chanterelle and Cinnabar Chanterelle share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Cantharellus.

Conservation Status

Chanterelle

LC — Least Concern

Cinnabar Chanterelle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chanterelle	Cinnabar Chanterelle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chanterelle

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), and North America (United States).

Cinnabar Chanterelle

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Norway and United States.

Chanterelle

The Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) is a species in the genus Cantharellus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Cinnabar Chanterelle

The cinnabar chanterelle (Cantharellus cinnabarinus) is a striking mushroom in the family Cantharellaceae, found primarily in eastern North America, from New England and the Great Lakes states south to the Gulf Coast, with records also from parts of Central America and the Caribbean. It is distinguished by its vivid cinnabar-red to orange-red coloration throughout—cap, false gills, stipe, and flesh—making it one of the most visually distinctive North American fungi. It grows in mycorrhizal association with deciduous trees, particularly oaks and beeches, in humid hardwood forest during summer and autumn. The cap is typically 2–5 centimeters across, wavy-edged, and funnel-shaped at maturity. Like other chanterelles, the cinnabar chanterelle has false gills—blunt, forking ridges rather than true blade-like gills—which is a diagnostic feature of the genus. The species is classified as Least Concern. It is edible and considered flavorful, though smaller than the golden chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius) and thus less commercially significant. Populations are dependent on intact oak and beech woodland, and the species benefits from the conservation of eastern North American deciduous forest. Some authorities also recognize this species in parts of Mexico and Guatemala, suggesting a broader range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States