Fauna
Fungus

Wood Ear Fungus

Auricularia cornea

Also known as Cloud Ear, Wood Ear, Hairy Rubber Cup, Black Fungus

Wood ear fungus forms cup- or ear-shaped, rubbery fruiting bodies that colonize decaying hardwood logs in humid forest regions. These saprotrophic fungi dry to a brittle shell during droughts and revive quickly following rainfall. Their upper surfaces feature a fine layer of tiny pale hairs that give them a distinct velvety sheen.

FungusSaprotrophicGelatinous
Wood Ear Fungus reference1 / 7
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDecomposing wood (Saprotrophic)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Snails
  • Fungus beetles
ThreatsDeforestation and loss of mature broadleaf forest habitats
HabitatsSubtropical and tropical forests, broadleaf woodlands
Life spanFruiting body persists several months
Classification
  1. FamilyAuriculariaceae
  2. SpeciesAuricularia cornea
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 fungi have toxic look-alikes; never ingest wild mushrooms based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Habitat Location: Look for rubbery, cup-shaped caps growing on decaying hardwood logs in damp forests.
  • Seasonal Resilience: Observe how shriveled, dry specimens swell back into soft cups following rain.
Related species
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