This species is only known from very few localities in southern Europe and one locality in Denmark.

It resembles C. caligatus, which is known only from association with sclerophyllous oak forests in the mediterranean area, but is more squamulose, has narrower spores and grows with non-sclerophyllous oak species.

It might also resemble C. pseudovulpinus, which has larger spores and grows with hornbeam (Carpinus), and C. vulpinus, which grows with beech (Fagus)