The genus was
circumscribed by Finnish mycologist
Petter Karsten in 1881 with
Climacodon septentrionalis as the
type species. This fungus was originally
described by
Elias Magnus Fries in 1821 as
Hydnum septentrionale.
Climacodon has been placed variously in the family
Meruliaceae, or in the
Phanerochaetaceae.
Molecular analysis places
Climacodon as a member of the Phlebioid clade. ==Species==