Fly Agaric vs Lesser Smoothcap

Amanita muscaria compared with Atrichum angustatum

Key Differences

Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Lesser Smoothcap is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Lesser Smoothcap
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Bryophyta
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Polytrichopsida (Polytrichopsida)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Polytrichales (Polytrichales)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Polytrichaceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Atrichum
Species	Amanita muscaria	Atrichum angustatum

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Lesser Smoothcap

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Lesser Smoothcap
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).

Lesser Smoothcap

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (5 countries) and North America (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.