Depressed Feather-moss
CR

Depressed Feather-moss

Taxiphyllum wissgrillii

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Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Christian Berg, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christian Berg

Overview

Depressed Feather-moss (Taxiphyllum wissgrillii) is a small, delicate bryophyte characterized by its flattened, feather-like branching pattern and distinctive depressed growth form that hugs closely to substrate surfaces. This moss species plays a crucial ecological role in maintaining microhabitat moisture levels and providing shelter for invertebrates in specialized forest ecosystems.

Depressed Feather-moss (Taxiphyllum wissgrillii) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements in moist, shaded environments. Climate change and increased frequency of disturbance events further compound the risk of extinction for this rare bryophyte.

Threat summary

Habitat

This moss inhabits the humid understory of old-growth temperate forests, typically growing on decaying logs, tree bases, and shaded rock surfaces where consistent moisture and low light conditions prevail. It requires stable forest microclimates with high humidity and minimal temperature fluctuations.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Depressed Feather-moss classified as Critically Endangered?
Depressed Feather-moss 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. Depressed Feather-moss (Taxiphyllum wissgrillii) is critically endangered due to its extremely limited distribution and vulnerability to habitat degradation. The species faces severe threats from human activities that alter its specialized microhabitat requirements in moist, shaded environments. Climate change and increased frequency of disturbance events further compound the risk of extinction for this rare bryophyte.
Where does Depressed Feather-moss live?
Depressed Feather-moss 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 Depressed Feather-moss?
The main threats to Depressed Feather-moss 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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