Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 3317043

Panaeolus antillarum

Panaeolus antillarum

Panaeolus antillarum is a robust, dung-loving mushroom recognized by its smooth, chalky white to silvery-grey cap that often develops fine surface fissures as it dries. Unlike many delicate relatives in its genus, it features surprisingly thick, firm flesh and mottled grey-to-black gills producing deep jet-black spores. It plays an essential ecological role across tropical and warm-temperate pastures, breaking down herbivore manure into nutrient-rich organic matter.

CoprophilousPastureSpore-Bearing
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Saprotrophic (decomposing dung and organic matter)
Predators
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Slugs
  • Dung beetles
ThreatsIntensive agricultural pesticide use and widespread pasture alteration
HabitatsPastures, grasslands, and agricultural fields with livestock manure
Life spanSeveral days per fruiting body; mycelium persists indefinitely
Classification
  1. FamilyBolbitiaceae
  2. SpeciesPanaeolus antillarum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Look on Manure: Search sunny, weathered cow and horse droppings in pastures after warm seasonal rain.
  • Observe Spore Prints: Take a spore print on white paper to see its dense, jet-black spore deposit.
  • Examine Gills: Look under the cap to see the characteristic patchy, mottled appearance of mature gills.
Related species
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