Fly Agaric vs Derber Korkstacheling

Amanita muscaria compared with Hydnellum compactum

Key Differences

• Fly Agaric is Least Concern while Derber Korkstacheling is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Fly Agaric	Derber Korkstacheling
Kingdom same	Fungi (Pilze)	Fungi (Pilze)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)	Basidiomycota (Ständerpilze)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order	Agaricales (Champignonartige)	Thelephorales (Thelephorales)
Family	Agaricaceae (Agarics)	Bankeraceae
Genus	Amanita (Amanitas)	Hydnellum
Species	Amanita muscaria	Hydnellum compactum

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Fly Agaric

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Derber Korkstacheling

VU — Vulnerable

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Fly Agaric	Derber Korkstacheling
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).

Derber Korkstacheling

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Norway, and Sweden. 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.

Derber Korkstacheling

Hydnellum compactum is a stipitate, tooth fungus with a compact, brownish-orange to rusty-brown cap surface covered in spines on the underside. It grows on the forest floor in coniferous forests across Europe and parts of North America, forming ectomycorrhizal associations with trees. This fungus obtains nutrients by forming mutualistic partnerships with the roots of pine, spruce, and fir trees.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden