Fly Agaric vs Scarlet Elfcup

Amanita muscaria compared with Sarcoscypha austriaca

Key Differences

Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Scarlet Elfcup is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Scarlet Elfcup
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Pezizomycetes (Pezizomycetes)
Order	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Pezizales (Pezizales)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Sarcoscyphaceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Sarcoscypha
Species	Amanita muscaria	Sarcoscypha austriaca

Evolutionary Relationship

Fly Agaric and Scarlet Elfcup share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Fungi. (Fungi)

View Kingdom: Fungi

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Scarlet Elfcup

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Scarlet Elfcup
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).

Scarlet Elfcup

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and 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.