Fly Agaric vs Lion Shield

Amanita muscaria compared with Pluteus leoninus

Key Differences

Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Lion Shield is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Lion Shield
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Pluteaceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Pluteus
Species	Amanita muscaria	Pluteus leoninus

Evolutionary Relationship

Fly Agaric and Lion Shield share a common ancestor at the Order level: Agaricales. (Gilled Mushrooms)

View Order: Agaricales

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Lion Shield

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Lion Shield
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).

Lion Shield

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 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.