= Skepperia carpatica Pilát 1927.

Cotylidia carpatica (Pilát) Huijsman, Bulletin de la Société Mycologique de France 70 (1): 57 (1954)

Despite its wide distribution and its relatively distictive macroscopic characters, Cotylidia carpatica has been found in only 10-12 localities worldwide. The species seems to be restricted to wetlands, which are especially endangered ecosystems, and its populations are therefore at risk of declining. In Quebec province, Canada, Cotylidia has been found twice in suburban areas, which are at risk of being negatively impacted by urban sprawl.

Cotylidia carpatica has been reported from Czech Republic (Visoke Tatry; Pilát 1927), France (Moreau and Audet 2008), Belgium (species.be), Netherlands (Moreau and Audet 2008, NMV 2016), Spain (Ribollet 2014), Indonesia (Java; identification uncertain, sterile specimen; Reid 1965), Taiwan (Wu 2003) and Canada (Quebec province, near Quebec city and near Montreal; Moreau and Audet 2008, mycoquebec.org and Renée Lebeuf, personal communication). It also appears on a Slovakian Red List (Lizon 2001).

Cotylidia carpatica has been recorded from 10-11 localities worldwide. More information on the current and past distribution of the species would be necessary to evaluate the trend of its population or a total number of mature individuals. Its apparent restriction to wetlands, which are especially threatened ecosystems, indicates that Cotylidia carpatica population is probably declining.

Canada: 2 sites in Quebec province (2006//2012). See Moreau and Audet 2008 and mycoquebec.org. Also Renée Lebeuf, personal communication.
Spain: 1 site in 2014 (Ribollet 2014).
France: According to Moreau and Audet 2008 (no further information on date or locality).
Netherlands: 2 sites (one prior to 1990//one after 1990). See NMV 2016.
Belgium: According to species.be (no further information on date or locality).
Czech Republic: 1 site (type locality, 1926). See Pilát 1927 or Moreau and Audet 2008.
Slovakia: Mention on Red List from 2001 (Lizon 2001; no further information on date or locality).
Indonesia: According to Reid 1965, but uncertain (sterile specimen).
Taiwan: According to Wu 2003.

Cotylidia carpatica is relatively small. It is expected that this species has often been overlooked. Its identification is easy if spores are measured. We believe that its atypical appearance would attract the attention of many mycologists. When Cotylidia carpatica is collected, it is probably often correctly identified.

In Quebec province (Canada), Cotylidia carpatica has been found twice on mosses (Moreau and Audet 2008, mycoquebec.org). According to mycoquebec.org, this species preferably grows in swamps. Reid (1965) says the species is “growing in damp situations either on wood or amongst bryophytes”. The nature of its bryotrophic relation remains to be specified.

The apparent restriction of Cotylidia carpatica to wetlands, which are especially endangered ecosystems, indicates that it might be threatened of habitat loss. In Quebec province (Canada), C. carpatica has been found in suburban areas. These sites are at risk of being negatively impacted by urban sprawl.

Cotylidia carpatica appears on a Slovakian Red List (Lizon 2001), but is categorized Data Deficient. It also appears on the Netherlands fungal Red List as sensitive (NVM 2016). In Quebec province (Canada), one of the two sites where this species has been found is located in a forested reserve. No other conservation action has been taken to protect Cotylidia carpatica. Sites where C. carpatica is currently known to grow should be protected. Cotylidia carpatica is relatively easy to identify. Amateur mycologists should learn about the existence of the species and learn where to find and how to recognize it.

Similar mossy wetlands should be inventoried in order to better specify Cotylidia carpatica population size, distribution and trends. The nature of the bryotrophic relation between Cotylidia carpatica and mosses should also be investigated. This relationship could be parasitism, but also commensalism or symbiosis.

Cotylidia carpatica specimens from North America and from Europe should be sequenced and compared to confirm they are the same taxon.

Cotylidia carpatica is an easily identified species due to its unusual shape and the size of its spores. In northeastern North America and Europe, where C. carpatica is found, there are numerous groups of amateur mycologists. Members of these groups can be recruited and instructed where to find and how to identify C. carpatica so they can target this species during forays. Data from amateur mycologists can be critical to define C. carpatica population size, distribution and trends.

Cotylidia carpatica. (2016). Retrieved 19 April 2016 from mycoquebec.org.
Cotylidia carpatica. Retrieved 22 April 2016 from species.be.
Lizon, P. (2001). Red List of Slovak Fungi. Catathelasma 2: 25-33.
Moreau, P. A., & Audet, S. (2008). Une récolte du champignon Cotylidia carpatica au Québec. Le Naturaliste canadien 132 (1).
NVM. (2016). Cotylidia carpatica. Retrieved 22 April 2016 from verspreidingsatlas.nl
Pilat, A. (1927). Skepperia carpatica sp. n., nouvelle espèce intéressante du genre Skepperia Berk. dans les Carpathes Centrales. Bulletin trimestriel de la Société mycologique de France 43: 48-58, pl. V.
Reid, D.A. (1965). A monograph of stipitate stereoid fungi. Beiheifte zur Nova Hedwigia 18: 1-382, pl. 1-48.
Ribollet, P. (2014). Cotylidia carpatica. Retrieved 19 April 2016 from mycodb.fr/recolte.php?source=popup&action=list&genre=Cotylidia&espece=carpatica
Wu, S. H. (2003). Lignicolous homobasidiomycetes newly recorded from Taiwan. Mycotaxon 88: 373-376.