Common Chocolate Chip Lichen
CR

Common Chocolate Chip Lichen

Solorina saccata

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solorina_saccata

Overview

Solorina saccata, commonly called chocolate chip lichen, is a lichen growing on calcareous rocks, usually in crevices and always in sheltered conditions. It is found from the mediterranean mountains up to the arctic. It differs from other alpine Solorina-species by the four two-cell spores in the asci.

Common Chocolate Chip Lichen (Solorina saccata) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from climate change and atmospheric pollution. This arctic-alpine species is particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures that alter its specialized high-elevation and northern habitat requirements. Air quality degradation from industrial emissions further compromises this sensitive lichen's ability to survive.

Threat summary

Habitat

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Peltigeraceae

Ruffled Freckled Pelt LichenCR

Ruffled Freckled Pelt Lichen

Peltigera leucophlebia

Unknown
VU

Solorina octospora

Unknown
CR

Tree Pelt Lichen

Peltigera collina

Unknown
Matt Felt LichenEN

Matt Felt Lichen

Peltigera malacea

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Common Chocolate Chip Lichen classified as Critically Endangered?
Common Chocolate Chip Lichen is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Common Chocolate Chip Lichen (Solorina saccata) faces severe decline primarily due to habitat loss from climate change and atmospheric pollution. This arctic-alpine species is particularly vulnerable to warming temperatures that alter its specialized high-elevation and northern habitat requirements. Air quality degradation from industrial emissions further compromises this sensitive lichen's ability to survive.
Where does Common Chocolate Chip Lichen live?
Common Chocolate Chip Lichen occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Common Chocolate Chip Lichen?
The main threats to Common Chocolate Chip Lichen are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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