Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen
Bryoria capillaris
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: (c) John Magne Grindeland, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by John Magne Grindeland
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Parmeliaceae
Genus
Bryoria
Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen belongs to the family Parmeliaceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, which are highly toxic to epiphytic lichens. Climate change and habitat loss through deforestation and urban development have further reduced suitable old-growth forest environments essential for this species' survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This epiphytic lichen grows on the bark and branches of coniferous and deciduous trees in mature and old-growth forests, particularly favoring areas with high humidity and clean air. It is typically found in montane and boreal forest ecosystems where it forms hanging, hair-like structures from tree branches.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen faces severe threats from air pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen compounds, which are highly toxic to epiphytic lichens. Climate change and habitat loss through deforestation and urban development have further reduced suitable old-growth forest environments essential for this species' survival.
Air pollution and acid deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Deforestation and logging of old-growth forests
Forest management practices reducing canopy continuity
Urban development and habitat fragmentation
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). Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen (Bryoria capillaris). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pale-footed-horsehair-lichen