Platythecium serpentinellum
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Platythecium serpentinellum faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to serpentine quarrying and mining activities that directly destroy its specialized substrate. Urban development and infrastructure expansion in its limited range further fragment the already restricted populations. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the delicate moisture and temperature conditions required for this lichen's survival on serpentine outcrops.
Habitat
This critically endangered lichen species is endemic to serpentine rock outcrops and associated mineral-rich soils, requiring the unique chemical composition and microclimate conditions found in these specialized geological formations. It typically grows on exposed serpentine surfaces in Mediterranean-type climates where moisture levels and temperature fluctuations create optimal conditions for its survival.