Cowpie Lichen
Diploschistes muscorum
Diploschistes muscorum is a species of lichen-forming fungus belonging to the family Graphidaceae.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diploschistes_muscorum
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Ostropales
Family
Graphidaceae
Genus
Diploschistes
Cowpie Lichen belongs to the family Graphidaceae, order Ostropales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Diploschistes muscorum is a species of lichen-forming fungus belonging to the family Graphidaceae.
Cowpie Lichen (Diploschistes muscorum) is declining primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in livestock grazing practices that have reduced the availability of nutrient-rich substrates it depends on. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition, and climate change are also contributing to population declines across its range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Cowpie Lichen (Diploschistes muscorum) is declining primarily due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and changes in livestock grazing practices that have reduced the availability of nutrient-rich substrates it depends on. Air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition, and climate change are also contributing to population declines across its range.
Agricultural intensification and habitat conversion
Changes in livestock grazing patterns
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Cowpie Lichen (Diploschistes muscorum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/cowpie-lichen