# Northern Tooth (*climacodon septentrionalis*)

The Northern Tooth is a unique fungus that looks like a cluster of white teeth! It grows on decaying wood and is fun to spot in the forest.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger
- **Habitat:** It lives in moist, wooded areas, especially on decaying logs.
- **Also known as:** Hedgehog Fungus, Tooth Fungus

![Northern Tooth](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Climacodon_septentrionalis_134149.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Milo (Mycophiliac), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Climacodon_septentrionalis_134149.jpg)

## Appearance

The Northern Tooth is a large, shelf-like fungus that grows on hardwood trees, appearing creamy white to yellowish. Its underside is covered with distinctive, pointy, downward-pointing teeth instead of gills or pores. It often forms overlapping layers on tree trunks.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Polyporales
- **Family:** Meruliaceae
- **Genus:** Climacodon

## Interesting facts

- Instead of gills, it has thousands of soft "teeth" that drip spores like rain!
- It's sometimes called the "bear's head fungus" due to its shaggy appearance!
- This fungus can weigh many pounds, making it one of the heavier brackets!
- When young, it has a peppery taste, but becomes tough and woody when old.

## Special abilities

- **Wood Wrecker:** Northern Tooth can break down tough wood because of special enzymes that help recycle nutrients into the forest soil.
- **Spore Sprinkler:** Northern Tooth has pointed teeth on its underside that help spores fall away cleanly, making sure they can spread widely.
- **Shelf Builder:** Northern Tooth has a sturdy, tough texture that allows it to grow in large, overlapping shelves, providing shelter for tiny creatures.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-10 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 5-30 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [Sugar Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sugar-maple) (*Acer saccharum*) — Obtains nutrients from decaying maple wood.
- **Depends on:** Red Oak (*Quercus rubra*) — Feeds on the wood of various oak species.
- **Depends on:** [American Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-beech) (*Fagus grandifolia*) — Also commonly found decomposing fallen beech trees.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Northern Tooth?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Northern Tooth?

2-10 cm

### Is Northern Tooth edible?

edible

### How big is Northern Tooth?

5-30 cm

### Where is Northern Tooth usually found?

It lives in moist, wooded areas, especially on decaying logs.

### What does Northern Tooth grow on?

wood

### When is Northern Tooth in season?

Late summer to fall

### What color are Northern Tooth spores?

White

## Where to spot

- [Fuller County Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fuller-county-park) — Michigan, US · Park

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Northern Tooth: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-tooth)