Fauna
Fungus · GBIF taxon 5241128

Splitgill Mushroom

Schizophyllum commune

Also known as Common Split Gill, Split-Gill Fungus, Common Splitgill

Splitgill mushrooms colonize decaying hardwood logs and fallen branches on every continent except Antarctica. Their fan-shaped caps feature unique gills that split longitudinally, folding over the spore-producing surfaces during dry spells to conserve moisture. When rainfall returns, these tough, hairy fruit bodies rehydrate and instantly resume releasing millions of spores.

Wood-DecayerWidespreadShelf Fungus
Splitgill Mushroom reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Grey Smith, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Grey Smith · 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
  • Dead wood
  • Lignin
  • Cellulose
Predators
  • Fungus gnats
  • Slugs
  • Darkling beetles
ThreatsNone (extremely common and resilient globally)
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodlands, exposed timber, fallen logs
Life spanPerennial fruit bodies (rehydrate and revive across seasons)
Classification
  1. OrderAgaricales
  2. FamilySchizophyllaceae
  3. GenusSchizophyllum
  4. SpeciesSchizophyllum commune
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
  • Inspect the underside: Look closely at the gill underside to see the characteristic longitudinal splits.
  • Check after rain: Search fallen branches after wet weather, when dried shriveled caps dramatically rehydrate.
  • Touch the surface: Feel the upper cap to notice its densely fuzzy, greyish-white texture.
Related species
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