Clustered Domecap vs Patagonian mara

Lyophyllum decastes compared with Dolichotis patagonum

Key Differences

Clustered Domecap is Least Concern while Patagonian mara is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Clustered Domecap	Patagonian mara
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Lyophyllaceae	Caviidae
Genus	Lyophyllum	Dolichotis
Species	Lyophyllum decastes	Dolichotis patagonum

Conservation Status

Clustered Domecap

LC — Least Concern

Patagonian mara

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Clustered Domecap	Patagonian mara
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Clustered Domecap

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil, Chile).

Patagonian mara

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in Belgium. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Clustered Domecap

Lyophyllum decastes, the clustered domecap or fried chicken mushroom, is a robust saprotrophic or possibly mycorrhizal basidiomycete in the family Lyophyllaceae that produces large, densely clustered fruiting bodies at the base of dead hardwoods, stumps, or from buried wood and woody debris. The caps are grey-brown to tan, broadly convex to domed, often with wavy margins in crowded clusters. Gills are white to pallid, crowded, and sinuate. It is distributed across the northern hemisphere in broadleaf and mixed forests. L. decastes is edible and considered a choice food mushroom in parts of Europe and Japan, where its firm texture and mild flavor have earned it the English nickname 'fried chicken mushroom.' However, definitive identification requires care, as it can be confused with toxic lookalikes. Molecular studies have revealed that the concept of L. decastes may encompass multiple species or a species complex. The species is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN and is commonly encountered in autumn in temperate woodlands, parks, and roadsides across its wide range.