- Scientific name
- Humidicutis arcohastata
- Author
- (A.M. Young) A.M. Young
- Common names
-
- IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Agaricales
- Family
- Hygrophoraceae
- Assessment status
-
Published
- Assessment date
- 2019-07-25
- IUCN Red List Category
-
NT
- Assessors
- Leonard, P.L.
- Reviewers
- Mueller, G.M.
Assessment Notes
Justification
Humudicutis arcohastata is a distinctive and attractive species that is easy to identify in the field, yet records are limited in number. It is known from a limited number of records from nature reserves in Queensland (one site), Victoria (one site) and Tasmania (three sites) in Australia. It is reported to grow amongst moss on decomposing wood (Young 2000) in broadleaved temperate forests.
This habitat has suffered dramatic decline and ongoing reduction of territory which is expected to continue due to habitat encroachment and climate change. This ecoregion is listed as Critical/Endangered (“East coast of Australia | Ecoregions | WWF”).
Because of the small number of reports of this distinctive and easily detected species it is considered to be rare throughout its large range. It is estimated that there are no more than 1000 total sites each with 1-4 clusters of sporocarps. The estimated total number of mature individuals is between 2000-20000 with the best estimate of 10000. The species is assessed as Near Threatened under criterion C as it meets the thresholds for Vulnerable regarding population size and continuing decline, but there is insufficient information to be able to state that the decline meets the thresholds for Vulnerable C1, whilst the population structure does not meet the requirements for Vulnerable C2a(i) or C2a(ii).
Geographic range
Humidicutis arcohastata is an eastern Australian endemic mushroom only known from five locations: Mapleton National Park, Queensland (seven records); Jumping Creek Reserve, Victoria (one record, May 1996) and Aspley Conservation Area, Bicheno (one record June 2017); Waratah (three records, April 2006) and Southwest Conservation Areas, Tasmania (two records, April 2006). It is associated with mossy areas on dead wood in established broadleaf temperate forest dominated by a
Eucalyptus spp canopy.
Population and Trends
The species is known from five old growth sites (10 collections) from south eastern Australia (Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania) collected between 1996 and 2017. The only repeat collections of this species have been recorded in southeast Queensland (2008, 2009 and 2012).
Population Trend: decreasing
Habitat and Ecology
Specimens of
Humidicutis arcohastata are found amongst moss on dead wood in established broadleaved temperate forest with a predominant
Eucalyptus spp canopy (Young 2000).
This species is found growing on dead wood. Other members of the Family Hygrophoraceae are predominantly ground-dwelling and it is not known if this species is growing in soil and simply extending its mycelium into the wood.
Threats
All records occur in nature reserves, three of the reserves are small and surrounded by urban areas (Mapleton National Park, Qld, Jumping Creek Reserve, Vic. and Aspley Conservation Area, Bicheno, Tas.).
The species occurs in small isolated natural reserve areas. Continued habitat loss and degradation due to decline of old-growth forest by human activity (forestry, fire, foot traffic and encroachment by agriculture or development) negatively impacts the species.
Conservation Actions
No conservation actions currently target
Humidicutis arcohastata. There is a need for the conservation of habitat (including old growth substrate) from urban, commercial and agricultural incursion.
Further research is needed to clarify conservation needs of this species including its life history and ecology. Research into the distribution, habitat monitoring and potential threats of
H. arcohastata is required.
Use and Trade
The species is not utilized.
Source and Citation
Leonard, P.L. 2022. Humidicutis arcohastata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T154472574A218661091.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T154472574A218661091.en .Accessed on 3 February 2025