Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus coccolobae inhabits Caribbean coastal ecosystems, where it is associated with Coccoloba spp. Although the species probably exists throughout the distribution of Coccoloba uvifera and C. diversifolia, their habitats are threatened by touristic activities and urban development. Additionally, climate change scenarios predict that the sea level will rise 1-2 m in the Caribbean in the next century with a concurrent 1,300 km² coastal land area lost (Clark et al. 2015, Simpson 2017). In consequence, this ecosystem is in severe risk where it occurs at very low altitudes, but the Coccoloba species it is associated with occur up to 900 m above sea level, somewhat mitigating this threat. It is therefore not likely that the population reduction for this species is steep enough to qualify the species as threatened under criterion A (30% reduction in three generations). Cantharellus coccolobae is therefore assessed as Least Concern considering its wide distribution. However, further research is needed on its distribution and threats, as there is also a possibility that it is more restricted than its host species, and at least one of its potential hosts could be particularly badly impacted by sea level rises.

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Geographic range

This species occurs throughout the Caribbean area including Bahamas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan, Central America, Antilles, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Venezuela, Guyana and Colombia. There is also a report from the Pacific coast in southern Mexico, but this requires confirmation. It probably occurs in more localities where Coccoloba grows in the Caribbean and Central America. The species is an ectomycorrhizal mushroom highly specific to Coccoloba.

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Population and Trends

The species probably occurs throughout the distribution of Coccoloba uvifera and C. diversifolia. Its restricted habitat is threatened by housing development, touristic activities, and climate change causing sea level rises. In consequence its subpopulations are probably undergoing a continuing decline due to a continuing decline in extent and quality of habitat, but it is not likely that the reduction is steep enough to qualify the species as threatened under criterion A (30% reduction in three generations).

Population Trend: Decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

This is an ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Coccoloba swartzii, C. uvifera, and C. diversifolia, in rocky slopes bordering floodplain, in sandy soil on rocky roadsides in coastal forest. It forms its basidiomes mainly in the rainy season.

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Threats

This species probably has a wide geographic distribution, as its Coccoloba hosts are present in Yucatán Peninsula, the Caribbean, Florida, Central America and northern South America. However, this habitat is being rapidly transformed at least in some areas, by housing, touristic and trade activities, and costal erosion. Additionally, climate change scenarios predict the sea level will increase 1-2 m in the Caribbean in the next century with a concurrent 1,300 km² coastal land area lost (Clark et al. 2015, Simpson 2017); although this is double the three generation time period for this species (per Dahlberg and Mueller 2011). In consequence this ecosystem is in severe risk. However, the Coccoloba species it depends upon are found up 900 m above sea level, which somewhat mitigates this risk. Careful monitoring, though, is required; not only for this species but also at least one of its potential hosts (Coccoloba uvifera), which could be particularly badly impacted by such sea level rises.

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Conservation Actions

Conservation actions - Some of the subpopulations are in protected areas, for example Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Lagartos in Mexico. Site protection and sea level rise mitigation are urgently needed. 

Research actions -  It is important to understand the actual distribution of this species, not only from fruiting bodies but from their presence in the root-tips of the hosts: in this way we can determine if the species is restricted to small and fragmented subpopulations of Coccoloba. It would also be useful to evaluate the risk to the habitat caused by tourism (Uitzil Coli 2018).

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Use and Trade

This is an edible species, used locally in many parts of its range.

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Source and Citation

Alvarez-Manjarrez, J., Garibay Orijel, R. & Vasco Palacios, A.M. 2025. Cantharellus coccolobae. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T163609964A163625993. Accessed on 20 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence