Neophellinus uncisetus is a polyporoid fungal species considered rare, occurring exclusively in the mountainous regions of Cordoba, Argentina. It inhabits both living and dead trunks of the Tabaquillo tree (Polylepis australis), which grows at elevations of 1500 meters or higher. This fungus is endemic, known for 10 sites, being restricted to small and fragmented forests of Polylepis australis in the Sierras de Cordoba, in the Chacoan subtropical region of South America, which currently covers only 11.9% of the area of the Sierras. Its potential range could extend to the entire distribution of Polylepis australis, including the southern zone of the Yungas forest, but this has not yet been confirmed despite sampling efforts. The Polylepis australis forests in the Sierra de Cordoba are facing serious threats including erosion and degradation caused by domestic grazing and anthropogenic fires for the past three centuries (Cabido and Acosta, 1985; Renison et al., 2002, 2004; Cingolani et al., 2003, 2004). There are only twenty-seven records of Neophellinus uncisetus in the monotypic forests of Polylepis australis, and therefore it is considered a rare species due to intensive sampling efforts throughout many years and the lack of collections outside high altitude areas within the Argentinian Yungas. Considering the species conspicuity and the assumption that there could be no more than 150 sites within its restricted habitat, the total population size is up to 2500 mature individuals or it could be even lower. The Polylepis australis forests in the Sierra de Cordoba are facing serious threats including erosion and degradation caused by domestic grazing and anthropogenic fires for the past three centuries and the loss of required habitat is expected to be still undergoing, and it is inferred that the fungal species is also in size population reduction. It is assessed as Endangered - EN C2a(ii)

Neophellinus uncisetus, previously known as Phellinus uncisetus, is a fungus discovered in the forests of Polylepis australis in Argentina. The species was initially described by Robledo, Urcelay, and Rajchenb. and later transferred to the genus Neophellinus by Dai Y.C. et al. in 2022.

The Neophellinus uncisetus is a rare saprophytic-parasitic fungus found in the monoespecific forests of Polylepis australis. Its population size is estimated to be around 2500 mature individuals, but it faces several threats, including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and invasive species. Further research and conservation efforts are needed to better understand its ecology and to develop strategies to mitigate its threats.

Neophellinus uncisetus is a species restricted to the small and fragmented forests of Polylepis australis in central Argentina, in the Sierras de Cordoba, in the Chacoan subtropical region of South America, which currently covers only 11.9% of the area of the Sierras. Of this total, 2.5% of the area is composed of closed-canopy forests, and the remaining 9.4% is composed of open forests mixed with meadows and exposed rocks. This percentage is only equivalent to 14,880 hectares. The known distribution of the species includes at least 10 sites. Although its host plant has a wider distribution, extending to the southern zone of the Yungas, the species Neophellinus uncisetus is restricted to the fragmented monospecific Polylepis australis forests, in high-altitude areas (1500 meters above sea level) within Cordoba. Its potential range could extend to the entire distribution of Polylepis australis, including the southern zone of the Yungas forest, but this has not yet been confirmed despite sampling efforts.

This parasitic polypore species is known only from at least 10 sites. Although its host plant has a wider distribution, extending to the southern zone of the Yungas, the species Neophellinus uncisetus is restricted to the fragmented monospecific Polylepis australis forests, in high-altitude areas (1500 meters above sea level) within Cordoba. There are only twenty-seven records of Neophellinus uncisetus in the monotypic forests of Polylepis australis, and therefore it is considered a rare species due to intensive sampling efforts throughout many years and the lack of collections outside high altitude areas within the Argentinian Yungas. Considering the species conspicuity and the assumption that there could be no more than 150 sites within its restricted habitat, the total population size is up to 2500 mature individuals or it could be even lower. The Polylepis australis forests in the Sierra de Cordoba are facing serious threats including erosion and degradation caused by domestic grazing and anthropogenic fires for the past three centuries and the loss of required habitat is expected to be still undergoing, and it is inferred that the fungal species is also in size population reduction.

Neophellinus uncisetus is a rare fungus found exclusively only in the mountainous regions of Cordoba, Argentina. It inhabits both living and dead trunks of the Tabaquillo tree (Polylepis australis), which grows at elevations of 1500 meters or higher. This fungus is endemic to the Cordoba mountains and its survival depends on the presence of its host.

The threats to Neophellinus uncisetus primarily affect its host plant, Polylepis australis. The Polylepis australis forests in the Sierra de Cordoba are facing serious threats including erosion and degradation caused by domestic grazing and anthropogenic fires for the past three centuries (Cabido and Acosta, 1985; Renison et al., 2002, 2004; Cingolani et al., 2003, 2004). Currently, the forests with a closed canopy cover only 2.5% of the area, with open forests mixed with grasslands and exposed rocks occupying the rest of the area (9.4%) (Cingolani et al., 2004). Additionally, the livestock grazing activity in the mountains where these forests are found, is a significant economic activity in the region (Zimmermann et al., 2009). Although it slightly stimulates early regeneration (Zimmermann et al., 2009), it also damages the young Polylepis trees that are 4-150 cm tall, causing them to lose up to 98% of their biomass annually (Giorgis et al., 2010). Livestock grazing and associated fires restrict P. australis to less flammable sites, such as low topographic positions and rocky sites (Renison et al., 2002, 2006). Over hundreds of years, domestic grazing and fires, along with logging, have resulted in a marked decrease in the distribution area of P. australis in the Sierra de Cordoba (Cingolani et al., 2008), as well as increased soil erosion, a simplification of the forest’s vertical structure, and a decrease in biodiversity (Bellis et al., 2009; Renison et al., 2010, 2011; Robledo & Renison, 2010).

Natural reserves are protected against logging and deforestation, however, stronger measures involving citizens are needed against invasive tree and shrub species. Since Polylepis australis is under threat, conservation measures to protect the host would be beneficial.

Research is needed to better identify the substrate range for this species, as well as to investigate its presence along the entire distribution of the host plant Polylepis australis (e.g. Yungas), and whether it is associated with other Polylepis species.

Not known

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