Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus pseudomiomboensis is currently only known from a small area of southern Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, it has been recorded in miombo woodland containing a range of tree species, and could have a far wider distribution. If the species were to be shown to restricted to only its known sites then it potentially could be Critically Endangered, but if it is more widespread across miombo woodland then it could be classed as Least Concern. With this high a level of uncertainty, then C. pseudomiomboensis is assessed as Data Deficient.

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Geographic range

All specimens of this species have been recorded from within 3 km of each other in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, near Kisangwe (De Kesel et al. 2016). However, its associations may be broad, having been collected in miombo woodland containing Brachystegia microphylla, Julbernardia paniculata, J. globiflora, Marquesia macroura and Uapaca kirkiana (De Kesel et al. 2016), and so its distribution is likely to be greater than currently known.

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Population and Trends

Ongoing deforestation in southern Democratic Republic of Congo is suspected to be causing population declines. Without further information regarding the full range of the species, though, it is not currently possible to accurately estimate the population size or quantify the trend.

Population Trend: Decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

The genus Cantharellus consists of species forming ectomycorrhizal associations with trees. This species occurs in miombo woodland. It is only known from a small area in southern Democratic Republic of the Congo at the moment, but it potentially could be more widespread, having been found in woodland containing Brachystegia microphylla, Julbernardia paniculata, J. globiflora, Marquesia macroura and Uapaca kirkiana (De Kesel et al. 2016).

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Threats

Miombo woodlands are impacted by a range of threats, which could in turn impact this species. The most severe of these is likely to be the destruction of this habitat type through logging, in addition to clearance for agriculture (see Jew et al. 2016). Mining could prove to be an additional threat.

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Conservation Actions

Further research to investigate its ecology, to ascertain how widespread this species may be throughout Miombo woodlands, and to identify the host tree is required.

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Use and Trade

There is no specific information regarding the use/trade of this species.

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Source and Citation

Westrip, J.R.S. 2022. Cantharellus pseudomiomboensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T189960005A217823609. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence