Identification Information: This crustose lichen can be recognized by its occurrence on bark, pale, elongate lirellae that lack blackcarbonized areas, simple labia, ornamented paraphyse tips, non-inspersed hymenium, short, hyaline 4-5celled ascospores (16–20 × 6–8μm), and absence of secondary metabolites.
Acanthothecis paucispora is a rare script lichen known from two locations in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain of southeastern North America. Though recently described, additional populations of the specie shave not been located despite extensive study of the small amount of suitable habitat that persists in a region fragmented and degraded by anthropogenic forces. The threats to A. paucispora stem from degradation and fragmentation of suitable habitat, as well as projected impacts from sea-level rise mean that the species is considered to occur in a single threat location. Acanthothecis paucispora is therefore assessed here as Critically Endangered.
Assessor/s: Lendemer, J. & Allen, J.; Reviewer/s: Scheidegger, C.; Contributor/s: Weerakoon, G. & Dahlberg, A.
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Find out more about the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteriahere.