Fauna
Fungus

Death Cap

Amanita phalloides

Also known as Death Cap Mushroom, Green Death Cap

Death cap mushrooms emerge in late summer and autumn beneath broadleaved trees like oaks and chestnuts, forming vital underground mycorrhizal partnerships with their host roots. Smooth caps range from pale olive-green to yellowish brown, featuring broad white gills beneath and a distinctive cup-like volva hidden at the base of the stem. Responsible for the vast majority of fatal mushroom poisonings worldwide, this species synthesizes potent amatoxins that withstand both cooking and freezing.

ToxicFungusMycorrhizal
Death Cap reference1 / 7
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—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMycorrhizal
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus Gnats
  • Squirrels
ThreatsHabitat clearing, host tree decline
HabitatsDeciduous woodlands, mixed forests, parks with host trees
Life spanPerennial mycelium; fruiting body lasts 1–2 weeks
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilyAmanitaceae
  3. GenusAmanita
  4. SpeciesAmanita phalloides
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
Extremely deadly if ingested and has toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Why it is dangerous
Contains deadly amatoxins that destroy liver and kidney tissue, often causing delayed organ failure days after ingestion.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for an olive to yellowish-green cap, white gills, a tissue-like skirt on the stem, and a broad cup-like volva at the base.
What to do
Do not ingest any portion of this fungus, and keep pets and children clear of foraging areas where it grows.
Responsible observation
  • Visual ID: Examine the yellowish-green cap, white gills, and stem skirt without needing to consume or harvest.
  • Expose the Base: Gently scrape away leaf litter to check for the telltale cup-like volva at the stem base.
  • Hand Hygiene: Wash hands after handling specimens to prevent accidental ingestion of spores or tissue.
Related species
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