Fly Agaric vs

Amanita muscaria compared with Sarcodon leucopus

Key Differences

• Fly Agaric is Least Concern while is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Thelephorales (Thelephorales)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Bankeraceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Sarcodon
Species	Amanita muscaria	Sarcodon leucopus

Evolutionary Relationship

Fly Agaric and share a common ancestor at the Class level: Agaricomycetes. (Mushrooms)

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric
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).

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.

Sarcodon leucopus is a tooth fungus producing a fleshy, brownish cap studded with pale spines (teeth) on its underside instead of gills or pores. It forms ectomycorrhizal associations with conifers and broadleaf trees in European temperate and boreal forests. Near Threatened, this species is sensitive to nitrogen deposition and the loss of old-growth forest habitats.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden