WHAT IS THE COOLEST MOSS?

The coolest moss, or group of mosses, are the coprophilous (copro- meaning dung and -philous meaning affinity) mosses. These mosses live specifically on dung and other animal remains. This is strange because it is a very small and specific target area to live on (as opposed to tree branches, of which there are usually very many with wide surfaces to settle on). These mosses have been shown to only grow on specific kinds of animal dung, showing preferences for either carnivore or herbivore dung, and sometimes even having a preference for the age of the dung. 

These mosses have achieved such a specific living situation in a very sneaky way: by tricking flies. These mosses will grow a spore-carrying structure that is very bright like a flower but very smelly like dung in order to trick the fly into landing on it. Once the fly lands on it, it realizes its mistake, but only after it has gotten the moss’ spores stuck on it. Afterwards, it is likely that the fly will land on some nice fresh dung that the spores can grow on.