Fauna
Fungus

Coral Tooth Fungus

Hericium coralloides

Also known as Comb Coral Mushroom, Coral Spine Fungus

Coral tooth fungus forms stunning, branching clusters of pure white spines that resemble marine coral or frozen cascades. It acts as an essential forest recycler, decomposing dead hardwood trees by breaking down tough lignin and cellulose into nutrient-rich organic matter. The delicate fruiting bodies typically emerge after soaking rains in late summer and autumn, releasing powdery white spores from their hanging spines before yellowing with age.

FungusForestDecomposer
Coral Tooth Fungus reference1 / 7
(c) Bill Sheehan, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Bill Sheehan · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDead hardwood logs, Decaying cellulose, Lignin
Predators
  • Fungus gnat larvae
  • Ciid beetles
  • Slugs
ThreatsDeforestation, intensive forestry, and removal of deadwood
HabitatsTemperate deciduous and mixed broadleaf forests
Life spanFruiting body lasts 2–4 weeks; mycelium persists for decades
Classification
  1. OrderRussulales
  2. FamilyHericiaceae
  3. GenusHericium
  4. SpeciesHericium coralloides
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 edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Habitat Spotting: Search shady, humid ravines and mature forests with ample fallen beech or birch logs.
  • Lighting: Use diffused natural light when photographing to avoid blowing out the delicate white spines.
  • Log Care: Avoid rolling or disturbing fallen logs, which damages the long-lived internal mycelial network.
Related species
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