What is the devil's fingers fungus found in Dartmoor?

The devil's fingers fungus, also known as the octopus stinkhorn, is a peculiar and unsettling-looking lifeform that was recently discovered in Dartmoor, Devon.

When was the devil's fingers fungus first found in Dartmoor?

A walker discovered the rare devil's fingers fungus in Dartmoor on October 29th, 2025, just a couple of days before Halloween.

Where did the devil's fingers fungus come from?

The devil's fingers fungus is native to Australia and New Zealand, and is believed to have arrived in England over a century ago, likely hitchhiking with war supplies such as wool.

Home / Environment / Dartmoor's Devilish Delight: Rare Sighting of the Octopus Stinkhorn Fungus

Dartmoor's Devilish Delight: Rare Sighting of the Octopus Stinkhorn Fungus

31 Oct

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Summary

Rare discovery of the devil's fingers fungus in Dartmoor, Devon
Fungus has an otherworldly, gruesome appearance and a putrid smell
Believed to have arrived in England from Australia and New Zealand in 1914

Dartmoor's Devilish Delight: Rare Sighting of the Octopus Stinkhorn Fungus

On October 29th, 2025, a walker made a rare and eerie discovery in the Dartmoor region of Devon, England. They stumbled across a lone devil's fingers fungus, a peculiar and unsettling-looking lifeform, rising from the earth like a hand emerging from a grave.

The devil's fingers fungus, also known as the octopus stinkhorn, is a species native to Australia and New Zealand that is believed to have arrived in England over a century ago, likely hitchhiking with war supplies such as wool. This alien invader is known for its otherworldly, gruesome appearance and a putrid smell akin to rotting flesh, which attracts flies to spread its spores.

The walker's discovery was reported to a local navigation tutor, Martin Williams, who was able to pinpoint the exact location of the fungus and guide a curious nature enthusiast to the site. There, they found the devil's fingers fungus, slightly desiccated but still intact, its spindly blackened fingers twisted into a fist, emerging from a pale gelatinous shell at the base.

While Dartmoor is home to a number of species with "devil" in their names, from the devil's-bit scabious flower to the screaming swifts nicknamed "devil birds," the devil's fingers fungus surely earns that moniker the most with its truly devilish and unsettling appearance. This rare sighting is a spooky Halloween treat for those who appreciate the more peculiar wonders of the natural world.

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