Humidicutis arcohastata

Humudicutis arcohastata is a distinctive and attractive species that is easy to identify in the field, yet records are limited in number. It is known from a limited number of records from nature reserves in Queensland (one site), Victoria (one site) and Tasmania (three sites) in Australia. It is reported to grow amongst moss on decomposing wood (Young 2000) in broadleaved temperate forests.

This habitat has suffered dramatic decline and ongoing reduction of territory which is expected to continue due to habitat encroachment and climate change. This ecoregion is listed as Critical/Endangered (“East coast of Australia | Ecoregions | WWF”).

Because of the small number of reports of this distinctive and easily detected species it is considered to be rare throughout its large range. It is estimated that there are no more than 1000 total sites each with 1-4 clusters of sporocarps. The estimated total number of mature individuals is between 2000-20000 with the best estimate of 10000. The species is assessed as Near Threatened under criterion C as it meets the thresholds for Vulnerable regarding population size and continuing decline, but there is insufficient information to be able to state that the decline meets the thresholds for Vulnerable C1, whilst the population structure does not meet the requirements for Vulnerable C2a(i) or C2a(ii).