Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus griseotinctus is currently only known from the forest of Analalava to the west of Mahavelona in eastern Madagascar. This site is a biodiversity hotspot, and there are several palm species that are restricted to this region of Madagascar. Even though the host species of C. griseotinctus is not known, there is a chance that it could have similar ecological requirements and could be restricted to this area. Even if it is more widespread it is most likely to be severely fragmented due to ongoing habitat loss in eastern Madagascar. Therefore, this species most likely warrants listing under a threatened category. Precautionarily, C. griseotinctus is treated as restricted to this one location, and based on current information it has a minimum area of occupancy and extent of occurrence of 4 km². Even if it were more widespread the extent of occurrence and area of occupancy are expected to be below 100 km², and the population severely fragmented. Therefore, C. griseotinctus is precautionarily assessed as Critically Endangered under criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii), but it it were found to be more widespread in the general area then it would still qualify as Critically Endangered, but under criterion B1ab(iii) only.

---

Geographic range

This species appears to be known from only the type specimen, collected to the west of Mahovelona on the east coast of Madagascar at Analalava (Hyde et al. 2019). This site is known to be a hotspot for other taxonomic groups (e.g. palms, Rakotoarinivo et al. 2010). Indeed some of the palm species that occur at this site are restricted to this region, while others that are more widespread are severely fragmented (Rakotoarinivo et al. 2010). While no relationship between this species and palms was noted in the type description, there is a chance that it could have similar ecological requirements. So we may suspect that either its range is very small, or severely fragmented. Based on the fact that there is only one known specimen. the area of occupancy and extent of occurrence would both be 4 km². However, if it is restricted to this region of Madagascar then the maximum for each may not exceed 100 km².

---

Population and Trends

The population size is unknown, although it may be very small. It is suspected to be in decline as a result of ongoing threats to lowland forest in eastern Madagascar.

Population Trend: Decreasing

---

Habitat and Ecology

This species was collected from low altitude forest in the humid zone of eastern Madagascar (Hyde et al. 2019). It was found in small groups on a steep, muddy slope amongst herbs (Hyde et al. 2019).

---

Threats

While the type locality has been managed by Missouri Botanical Garden since 2012 (Rakotoarinivo et al. 2010), the wider region has suffered from rapid deforestation due to land conversion for agriculture and logging. If the species were to be slightly more widespread these would be impacting it. Wildfires may be an additional threat (FAPBM 2021), which could impact within the managed area, and indeed there appears to be evidence of recent forest cover loss within the protected area due to fires (from World Resources Institute 2024).

---

Conservation Actions

The type locality has been managed by Missouri Botanical Garden since 2012 (Rakotoarinivo et al. 2010). Ensuring continued protection of the site is important, in addition to engagement with local stakeholders to try to reduce the impacts of anthropogenic activities on natural vegetation. Further research in order to identify whether the species may occur at additional sites away from the type locality would be useful.

---

Use and Trade

The taste of the species is described as mild (Hyde et al. 2019), but it is not known if this species is actively used/traded.

---

Source and Citation

Westrip, J.R.S. 2025. Cantharellus griseotinctus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T189960488A271994151. Accessed on 24 November 2025.

---

• Country occurrence