Fly Agaric vs Obscure Domecap

Amanita muscaria compared with Calocybe obscurissima

Key Differences

Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Obscure Domecap is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Obscure Domecap
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)	Lyophyllaceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Calocybe
Species	Amanita muscaria	Calocybe obscurissima

Evolutionary Relationship

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

View Order: Agaricales

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Obscure Domecap

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Obscure Domecap
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).

Obscure Domecap

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, and Norway. Currently classified as Endangered 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.