Amauroderma trichodermatum is a rare and charismatic polypore species. Despite ongoing collecting efforts by multiple field researchers since the taxon was described in 1968, it is known from only around 10 collections. Its known distribution is confined to the increasingly threatened Amazon and Atlantic rainforests, though its distribution pattern suggests it may also occur in other lowland Neotropical forests. Considering the potential significance of the Amazon for the species and data on its historical and future degradation, it is suspected a population decline around 30% over the next 30 years (three generations). Consequently, the species is assessed as Vulnerable under criterion A3c.

Originally described by J.S. Furtado in 1968 as A. trichodematum.  Robledo et al. (2015) recognized this as a misspelling of ‘trichodermatum,’ and considered the original epithet as an orthographic variant.  The species has seen be recombined in the newly erected genus, Furtadomyces (Leonardo-Silva et al., 2024).

Amauroderma trichodermatum is a very rare and charistmatic polypore with a concentrically zonate, hirsute pileus.  Despite ample and ongoing collecting efforts from multiple field researchers over the ~65 year period since the taxon was described, it is only known from seven collections worldwide.  All of these sites lie within the increasingly threatened Amazon rainforest, though the distribution pattern suggests it may also occur in other lowland Neotropical forests.

Amauroderma trichodermatum is currently considered endemic to the Neotropical region, with eight records reported in the literature from Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana (Gomes-Silva et al. 2015; Robledo et al. 2015; Peres et al. 2023). Additionally, records from Colombia and Costa Rica (one from each country) are noted in GBIF (2024). These sparse records in humid tropical and subtropical forests across the Neotropical region suggest that the species may be distributed throughout Neotropical lowland rainforests, with the possible exception of the drier areas of the Brazilian Cerrado (Robledo et al. 2015).

Despite being highly detectable and morphologically distinct from related species, Amauroderma trichodermatum has only been recorded around 10 times since its description in 1968 (based on a specimen collected 40 years earlier). Mycological research and fungal conservation in Latin America have significantly expanded over the past two decades, with more collectors operating in more locations throughout the year. Despite this increased effort, A. trichodermatum has not been reported reproducing anywhere on the continent for the past eight years, suggesting that the species is likely rare. Most known occurrences are from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest, both of which are highly threatened ecosystems. The Atlantic Forest is now reduced to 28% of its original size, with remaining areas fragmented and not fully mature (Rezende et al. 2018). The Amazon continues to face deforestation and degradation, leading to direct population declines and habitat quality loss (Lapola et al. 2023). Given the Amazon’s size relative to the Atlantic Forest, it is likely that the majority of the population resides there.
The Amazon has recently experienced intensified deforestation and degradation due to multifactorial causes, which might persist in the future (Zhang et al. 2015; Amigo 2020). A historical series (2013-2022, MapBiomas 2024) indicates an 8% reduction in natural vegetation cover in Brazilian Amazon, averaging a 0.8% annual loss. Assuming this rate continues over the next 30 years (three generations) for the entire biome, a 24% reduction in the Amazon’s natural extent could be expected.
Considering the potential significance of Amazon for the species occurrence and the likely impact of habitat loss and degradation on species distribution (Berglund & Jonsson 2003; Haddad et al. 2015), we infer a 30% population decline over the next 30 years (three generations).

Aside from its apparent endemicity to Neotropical rainforests, very little is known about the specific habitat and ecological characteristics of Amauroderma trichodermatum. Of the eight records reported since its formal description in 1968 (based on a collection made ~40 years earlier), seven either describe it as terrestrial or provide no substrate information at all. The most recent sighting observed it reproducing on decayed wood (FURB 51361).

The Amazon rainforest is experiencing one the greatest continuous deforestation event on Earth (Gagen et al. 2022).  The causes of this destruction are varied, and range from small-scale farming to large-scale monocropping, national and multinational mining operations, and development projects such as roads and hydroelectric dams.  This is compounded by the effects of climate change, introducing drought and fire to an already heavily impacted, imperiled ecosystem ( Zhang et al. 2015, Lapola et al. 2023). The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is regarded as a biodiversity hotspot for conservation priorities due to its high diversity, endemism rates, and habitat loss (Rezende et al. 2018).

Direct conservation actions primarily include effective management and maintenance of protected areas where the species is potentially found, ex-situ conservation, along with a robust sustainable framework for conservation plans and economic development in Brazil and other countries with potential habitat. Increased and better monitoring of protected areas should also be conducted to prevent illegal use and occupancy.

More surveys on the potential area of occurrence are required to better understand the true range and rarity of A. trichodermatum, as well as its ecology.

There are no known uses of this species.

Robledo, G.L., Newman, D., Popoff, O.F., Drechsler-Santos, E.R. & Ryvarden, L. (2015). Amauroderma trichodermatum (Ganodermataceae, Basidiomycota): first record from Bolivia and geographic distribution map, with notes on nomenclature and morphology. Check List, 11(4), 1671. doi:10.15560/11.4.1671

GBIF.org (19 August 2024) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.r858b9

Gagen, M., Naranjo, L. G., Vergara, A., Arias, M., Gachet, B., Roman, L., Surkin, J. & Tamayo, V. (2022). Living Amazon Report 2022. UK: World Wildlife Fund. https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/lar__ingles_23_dic_2022.pdf

Projeto MapBiomas – Coleção v8.0 da Série Anual de Mapas de Cobertura e Uso da Terra do Brasil, acessado em 19 de agosto de 2024 através do link: https://brasil.mapbiomas.org/