FungiHighest rank in taxonomy. Groups all life into domains: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, etc.IUCN NEInternational Union for Conservation of Nature — the world authority on species extinction risk, using standardized criteria. — Not Evaluated — not yet assessed against the IUCN Red List criteria.In ProgressCurrent stage of this record in the editorial review workflow. Recent Sighting
Lentinus crinitus
Hairy Lentinus
(L.) Fr., 1825
Detailed Texts Multi-lang
A small to medium-sized, highly coriaceous and tough agaricoid fungus. The cap is deeply infundibuliform (funnel-shaped) or cup-like, with a surface that is densely and coarsely covered with stiff, dark brown to greyish scales or hairs. The margin is strongly incurved when young and frequently splits with age. The underside features crowded, narrow, deeply decurrent gills with slightly serrated or fringed edges, cream to pale tan in color, supported by a central, rigid, and hairy central stalk.
Added by
Anonymous Curator
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Under Review
Last modified by
Julia Trouin
TaxonomyBiological classification ranks placing this species within the tree of life, from Kingdom down to Genus.
PhylumRank below Kingdom. Groups organisms sharing a fundamental body plan (e.g., Chordata = vertebrates and some invertebrates).Basidiomycota
ClassRank below Phylum. Subdivides by structural traits (e.g., Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Insecta).Agaricomycetes
OrderRank below Class. Groups related families sharing common ancestry (e.g., Carnivora, Primates).Polyporales
FamilyRank below Order. Groups closely related genera (e.g., Felidae = cats, Canidae = dogs).Polyporaceae
GenusRank just above Species. The first word in the two-part binomial scientific name.Lentinus
Taxonomic AuthorityThe scientist who first formally described and published this species, followed by the year of publication.(L.) Fr., 1825
Record Completeness
85%Coming soon
Ecology & StatusHow this species lives: habitat preferences, diet, behavior, population status, and role in its ecosystem.
OriginWhether the species is native (evolved here), endemic (found only here), or introduced by human activity.
Native
Population TrendDirection of change in population size over time: increasing, stable, decreasing, or unknown.
Unknown
Trophic RolePosition in the food chain: producer, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, decomposer, or parasite.
Decomposer
EdibilityWhether this mushroom is edible, toxic, hallucinogenic, or of unknown safety. Never eat based solely on this data.
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Cap ShapeShape of the mushroom cap (pileus): convex, flat, umbonate, funnel-shaped, bell-shaped, etc.
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Hymenium TypeThe spore-bearing surface of a fungus: gills, pores, teeth, ridges, smooth, or wrinkled.
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Fruiting SeasonTime of year when this species typically reproduces or flowers.
Year Round
Recent SightingsWhether this species has been observed in the wild in Costa Rica within recent years.
Yes
Habitat SummaryOverview of the specific ecosystems and environments where this species is found in Costa Rica. Multi-lang
Predominantly distributed throughout the Neotropics and subtropical regions. It grows saprophytically on decaying hardwood logs, fallen branches, and stumps exposed to high light intensities. It is exceptionally common in disturbed areas, open pastures, forest margins, and agricultural clearings, where it plays a key primary role in the rapid recycling of sun-baked organic woody materials.SubstrateThe organic material or host organism this fungus colonizes and decomposes. Multi-lang
Information not available in English. Help us expand this record!BehaviourDaily activity patterns, movement, territory use, foraging style, and seasonal behavioral changes. Multi-lang
An aggressive, stationary primary wood decomposer. It grows rapidly on exposed wood, forming clusters that tap into the internal moisture of the branch. Its vegetative mycelium actively spreads inside dead trunks, initiating a fast white-rot process that makes the wood soft and porous, which recycles essential atmospheric carbon back into the tropical topsoil ecosystem.Physical Measures
Length (cm)
2.0 - 8.0 cm
Hymenium StructuresMacro photographs of the spore-bearing surfaces used for mushroom identification.
No hymenium surface images available.
Evolutionary AdaptationsInherited traits and behaviors that improve the species' survival and reproduction in its specific environment. Multi-lang
Possesses a highly coriaceous, tough, and fibrous flesh containing specialized binding hyphae that prevent structural collapse during dry spells. This allows the fruiting bodies to persist in arid environments, shriveling during drought and reviving rapidly with heavy tropical rains.
The dense arrangement of stiff, trichome-like hairs on the cap acts as a functional evolutionary shield against extreme solar UV radiation and slows down surface moisture evaporation in open canopy neotropical pastures.
Main ThreatsDocumented pressures reducing the population: habitat loss, hunting, disease, climate change, and invasive species. Multi-lang
Industrial-scale canopy expansion or conversion of multi-species dynamic forest clearings into intensive, monoculture chemicalized agriculture, which chemically neutralizes dead hardwood substrates and disrupts the local wood-decay mycota.
Interesting FactsSurprising or notable facts that highlight what makes this species unique or ecologically important. Multi-lang
Lentinus crinitus is widely studied in modern biotechnology due to its exceptionally high production of laccase enzymes, which are highly efficient at degrading synthetic industrial dyes and detoxifying environmental pollutants.