Assessment Notes

Justification

This species is restricted to highly fragmented Valdivian rainforest in Chile's coastal range. It has an extent of occurrence of approximately 2,000 km² and the population is severely fragmented. A continuing decline is expected in the extent of suitable habitat, the number of locations and subpopulations, and the number of mature individuals; as much of the suitable habitat in the area has already been lost and there is a high likelihood of one of the remaining two known sites (neither of which is protected) being lost due to highway construction. It is therefore, assessed as Endangered.

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Taxonomic notes

The basionym of this species is Rhodogaster chilensis (E. Horak). The genus Rhodogaster is nested within the Entoloma sensu lato and was transferred to Entoloma by Co-David et al. (2009).

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Geographic range

This species is rare and has been documented only from two sites in the Valdivian forests of Chile's coastal range. The type was collected in Valdivian forests very close to the Pacific Ocean near Pucatrihue, Chile (as Fucatrihue in Horak 1964). There are newer collections by Smith, Furci and Sandoval near the Monumento Natural Alerce Costero, Chile. Its extent of occurrence is difficult to estimate as there are only two known sites, but taking into account other likely projected areas, it is likely to be in the region of 2,000 km².

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Population and Trends

This species is endemic to the Valdivian rainforest in Chile's coastal range and has only been documented at two sites. There are very few collections, but it is difficult to detect as has a truffle-like basidioma and, therefore, it is difficult to estimate its population size with any degree of certainty. However, the population is likely to be in decline, because the coastal Valdivian forests of Chile are a unique ecosystem that is under threat due to logging, burning, grazing, road-building and the expansion of pine plantations. The population is also severely fragmented as its suitable habitat is now restricted to tiny patches.

Population Trend: Decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

Entoloma chilense produces basidiomata directly on soil and within leaf litter in Valdivian rainforests. This species has only thus far been documented in the coastal range near Valdivia and has not been found further north near Concepción or south of Puerto Montt. The trophic mode of this species is unknown but it is presumed to be saprotrophic.

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Threats

This species is endemic to Valdivian rainforests that are under threat due to cutting of the forest, increased grazing intensity, coastal highway construction and the expansion of pine plantations in Chile's coastal range.

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Conservation Actions

Neither of the known sites are within a protected area, although the northern site is close to a National Park, so it is possible that it occurs within a protected area. The conservation implications to this species and others sharing its habitat should be taken into consideration for the planned highway development. Additionally, more work is needed to document the distribution of this species and to determine the specific factors that influence its distribution, as well as studying its ecology because the exact trophic mode of this species is still not known for sure.

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Use and Trade

No use of this species is known.

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Source and Citation

Furci, G. & Smith, M. 2020. Entoloma chilense. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T172740223A172861172. Accessed on 23 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence