Pixie Foam Lichen
Stereocaulon pileatum
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Lecanoromycetes
Order
Lecanorales
Family
Stereocaulaceae
Genus
Stereocaulon
Pixie Foam Lichen belongs to the family Stereocaulaceae, order Lecanorales, within the Lecanoromycetes class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pixie Foam Lichen faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter the chemical composition of its substrate. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate moisture balance required for lichen survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Occupies exposed rocky surfaces, particularly on acidic substrates including granite outcrops, stone walls, and occasionally on soil in open heathlands and moorlands. Typically found in areas with clean air and specific moisture regimes at various elevations.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Pixie Foam Lichen faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to air pollution, particularly nitrogen deposition and sulfur compounds that alter the chemical composition of its substrate. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and temperature fluctuations that affect the delicate moisture balance required for lichen survival.
Air pollution and nitrogen deposition
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Collection pressure for scientific and commercial purposes
Habitat fragmentation from urban development
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). Pixie Foam Lichen (Stereocaulon pileatum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pixie-foam-lichen