Assessment Notes

Justification

Craterellus niger has been found subgregariously growing directly from the ground, being possibly ectomycorrhizal as it is a Craterellus species. This species has only been reported in Brazil, Pernambuco state, within a conservation unit. Considering the sampling efforts during last decades in the northeast region of Brazil it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco State and may be restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest exclusively along the coast. The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco is facing threats such as deforestation, strong fragmentation, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in Pernambuco, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem of secondary forests. It is assumed that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation. Consequently, this species is assessed as Endangered, based on the small population size and decline [C2a(ii)].

---

Geographic range

This species has only been recorded in Brazil, Pernambuco state, Igarassu municipality in Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, first found in July 2012. Taking into consideration the sampling efforts during the last decades in the northeast region of Brazil it is expected that the species is rare and endemic to Pernambuco State and is likely to be restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest exclusively along the coast, in Atlantic Coastal Forest.

---

Population and Trends

The species is only known to occur in Igarassu municipality (Pernambuco state, Brazil) within the Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin. This species is found subgregariously growing directly on the ground, being possibly ectomycorrhizal as it is a Craterellus species, without any indications of a possible host. This species is considered rare as it is known only from its holotype, despite its conspicuous bright black basidiomata and high sampling efforts during the last decades in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Therefore, it is expected to be endemic to Pernambuco, being restricted to small remaining fragments of dense ombrophillous forest exclusively along the coast, within natural areas that meet its environmental requirements. The species is expected to be found at up to 40 sites, with each site potentially hosting approx. 50 mature individuals on average, resulting in a total population size of no more than 2,000 mature individuals, all within one subpopulation.

The Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco state is facing threats such as deforestation, and strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are being intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in the state, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem of secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization and industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionarily assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe.

Population Trend: Decreasing

---

Habitat and Ecology

Craterellus niger has been observed growing subgregariously on soil among litter within the coastal northern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It is expected that the species is restricted to this small area. Historical high sampling efforts have been made throughout the phytogeographical domain and the species was only found in its type locality, despite its conspicuous bright black basidiomes. Based on this, the species is assumed to be rare. It is possible that the species forms symbiotic relationships with an unknown plant host, as species within Craterellus are often ectomycorrhizal.

---

Threats

The Atlantic Forest of the Pernambuco state is facing threats such as deforestation and strong fragmentation due to the sugar cane crops, and nowadays its pressures are intensified by climate change. Only 2.5% of natural Atlantic Forest coverage remains in the state, becoming an extremely patchy ecosystem of secondary forests, with 90% of fragments being smaller than 10 ha (Dias et al. 2023). In general, the threats involve urbanization and industrial and silvicultural centres that can cause pollution (Galindo-Leal and De Gusmao Câmara 2003). Based on this information, we precautionarily assume that the species will suffer a habitat loss of at least 26% (Rezende et al. 2018) within the future three generations (50 years) and that this also equates to a population decline of the fungus of at least 20% or more within this timeframe. The occurrence of this species is located in the Pernambuco Endemism Center (hereafter PEC) formerly comprised of a 4.4 Mha area located north of the São Francisco River, in northeastern Brazil. Today, the PEC is the most degraded of the Atlantic Forest regions, the reason why it has been considered a hotspot within the Atlantic Forest hotspot (Dias et al. 2023). Remaining fragments are suffering from biomass and biodiversity erosion over decades due to the edge effects and the fungal population is expected to decline in light of the extensive loss of suitable and quality habitat (Rezende et al. 2018) and the putative influence that habitat degradation has on species occupation in a given environment (Berglund and Jonsson 2003, Haddad et al. 2015).

---

Conservation Actions

The main action to prevent the decline of the species is the protection of its habitat by the establishment, and appropriate management, of conservation areas and the enforcement of public policies to recover and protect its habitat. This species was found in a protected area, however further research into this species' current population size, habitat preferences, and potential threats is required. Its endemic status to Pernambuco should be verified in order to better understand its distribution and its environmental requirements (potentially ectomycorrhizal). Although ex situ conservation of this species would be important to ensure its genetic diversity for future reintroductions and restoration work, chanterelle species can be difficult to cultivate, so further research in this area is required.

---

Use and Trade

No use/trade is known.

---

Source and Citation

Wartchow, F. 2025. Craterellus niger. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T189310407A265965473. Accessed on 25 November 2025.

---

• Country occurrence