Candelariella corviniscalensis is a rare lichen with highly specific ecological niche requirements. It is known from 16 collections from 5 locations in the High Plains of eastern Colorado. Much of the species’ viable habitat is on private land, where it is not protected from development, grazing, or agriculture. Despite a range of uncertainty in the total population size due to a lack of survey efforts, the species is likely represented by fewer than 250 surviving mature individuals in the wild (EN D). Because of the threats to its suitable habitat, Candelariella corviniscalensis should also be considered EN under criterion B1B2ab.

Candelariella corviniscalensis is distinguished amongst other members of the genus by its endolithic thalli and large, biatorine apothecia that bear large spores (Westberg et al. 2011).

Candelariella coviniscalensis should be considered for listing because it is rare and endemic to foothills sandstones in Colorado, USA.

Candelariella corviniscalensis is known from 16 collections from 5 locations in the High Plains of eastern Colorado.

At a minimum, Candelariella corviniscalensis has an estimated population of 5 mature individuals, due to its known presence at only 5 locations worldwide, where it is rare. Its rarity is largely due to its restricted occurrence on very soft, large-grained sandstones of the Fox Hills and Dakota Formations. Based on these 5 locations, C. corviniscalensis has an AOO of 20 km2 and an EOO of 3,981.008 km2. However, it is likely that other locations exist, and that the species is represented by more than one mature individual at each location, so the true population size is likely much larger, but probably not exceeding 250 mature individuals, considering the restricted geographic area and rare substrate preferred by the species.

So far as is known, Candelariella corviniscalensis is restricted to soft sandstones (Fox Hills and Dakota Formations) in grassland habitats of the High Plains of eastern Colorado.

Candelariella corviniscalensis has highly specific habitat requirements and a narrow range. Most of its native range lies of private ranch land, where it is threatened by and unprotected from cattle grazing (2.3.4) and agriculture (2.1.4). Its range lies in the Front Range Megaregion, where it is threatened by private development (1.1, 1.2). Due to its proximity to roads and cities, it is further threatened by airborne pollutants (9.5.4)

Some populations are under protection, some are likely on actively grazed land, some are yet unknown.

To better understand the population size, geographic range, and threats to C. corviniscalensis, more surveys and collections should be made (1.2, 3.1). Suitable outcroppings should be mapped, surveyed, and the data aggregated for analyses.

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