Fungus · GBIF taxon 7987658
Coprinus comatus
coprinus comatusAlso known as Shaggy Mane, Lawyer's Wig, Shaggy Ink Cap
Shaggy manes emerge from the soil as pristine white cylinders before their bell-shaped caps flare open, revealing a dense coat of shaggy, upturned scales. Within hours of maturity, the gills undergo deliquescence, a self-digesting process that liquefies the cap into a black, spore-bearing ink. Beneath the surface, this fascinating fungus acts as a subterranean predator, using specialized tiny structures to paralyze and consume soil-dwelling nematodes.
FungusEphemeralSoil-Dwelling
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Nematodes
- Decaying organic matter
Predators
- Slugs
- Fungus gnats
- Beetles
ThreatsSoil compaction, heavy chemical fungicide use, and habitat loss
HabitatsLawns, roadsides, grasslands, and disturbed soils
Life spanMycelium lives for years; fruiting bodies last only 24 to 48 hours
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAgaricales
- FamilyAgaricaceae
- GenusCoprinus
- Speciescoprinus comatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- 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
- Observe the ink: Watch the lower edge of the cap dissolve into black fluid over a single day.
- Check the soil: Look for them in disturbed areas like gravel paths, lawns, and roadsides after autumn rains.
Toxic Look-alike (c) Amber M. King, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Amber M. King · cc-by
Close Relative James Lindsey / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alan Rockefeller · cc-by
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