Peniophora albobadia

Peniophora albobadia is a species of crust fungus in the family Peniophoraceae.

Taxonomy

First described scientifically by Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822, it was transferred to the genus Peniophora by Jacques Boidin in 1961. It is commonly found in the United States.

The species epithet is derived from albo-, white, and badi- meaning reddish-brown, the epithet accurately describing the vivid contrast between the fertile area and the margin.
The common name, giraffe spots, was coined by a member of the New York Mycological Society, based on specimens found during surveys of the boroughs of New York City.

The fruiting body is across, with brown zones in the center and a fuzzy white margin.

A similar-looking species Duportella malenconii has brown caps that peel away. There are few other lookalikes in North America.

It is a saprobic fungus, forming spreading crusts on the bark of decaying twigs and fallen branches of many hardwood species.