Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5239963

Leopard Earthball

Scleroderma areolatum

Also known as Areolate Earthball, Small Leopard Earthball

Leopard Earthballs feature a yellowish-brown outer skin broken into small, distinct raised patches surrounded by dark borders, creating a striking spotted pattern. Found growing directly on soil or moss in deciduous woodlands, these rounded fungi lack stems and remain firm until their interior matures into a powdery dark brown spore mass. Once mature, a jagged opening tears at the top, allowing falling raindrops to puff spores into the air.

FungusSpottedToxic
Leopard Earthball reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) desertnaturalist, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by desertnaturalist · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Tree root nutrients
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus gnats
ThreatsHabitat loss
HabitatsDeciduous forests, mossy banks, woodland paths
Life spanFruiting body lasts several weeks
Classification
  1. OrderBoletales
  2. FamilySclerodermataceae
  3. GenusScleroderma
  4. SpeciesScleroderma areolatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Toxic if ingested; wild fungi have dangerous look-alikes, so never consume wild mushrooms based on app identification.
Why it is dangerous
Contains toxins that cause severe gastrointestinal distress, pain, and vomiting if swallowed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for small, stemless rounded bodies with dark-bordered brown scales and a firm dark interior.
What to do
Do not harvest or ingest; observe in place and wash hands after touching wild fungi.
Responsible observation
  • Field Identification: Examine the leopard-like scales on the outer skin with a hand lens.
  • Spore Dispersal: Avoid squeezing mature earthballs, as the dense clouds of spores can irritate lungs.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…