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The Recently Extinct Fungi Database

The conservation status assigned to each entry should be taken as, to varying degrees, tentative. Cases where there is no suitable habitat left are rare, and they may still persist in captivity (knowingly or not). Thus an airtight case for extinction is very difficult to build. While most cases of rediscovery are due to a failure to have previously surveyed significant parts of known or suitable habitat. Or the organism was not, or at least should not, have been feared extinct in the first place. Decades without a record means absolutely nothing in and of itself. While the taxonomic validity or synonymy of a given taxon is somewhat subjective, and there is the very slight risk that a taxon will be (consciously or subconsciously) synonymised in order to reduce the number of extinctions.

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Phylum: Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)

Class: Ascomycetes

Order: Pertusariales

Family: Megasporaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Aspicilia tuberculosa (Ach.) J. R. Laundon - c.1830 Great Britain Missing Access

 

 

Class: Dothideomycetes

Order: Microthyriales

Family: Microthyriaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Asterinella hiugensis I. Hino & Hidaka, 1934   - Miyazaki Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan Rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Eurotiomycetes

Order: Eurotiales

Family: Trichocomaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Penicillium paradoxum (Fennell & Raper) - - India Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Onygenales

Family: Onygenaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Chrysosporium synchronum van Oorschot, 1980 - (rediscovered) Edmonton, Canada & Slovakia Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Pyrenulales

Family: Pyrenulaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Pyrenula micheneri Harris, 1989 Michener's wart lichen (rediscovered) Brazil, Canada, Colombia & USA Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Verrucariales

Family: Verrucariaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Placopyrenium heppioides (Zahlbr.) Breuss - - Los Angeles area, California, USA Relocated or rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Hyphomycetes

Family: incertae sedis
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Mycelephas robustus (R.F. Castañeda) R.F. Castañeda   (rediscovered) Brazil & Cuba Rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Lecanoromycetes

Order: Acarosporales

Family: Acarosporaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Acarospora orcuttii K. Knudsen, 2010 - 1884 California, USA Missing Access

 

Order: Lecanorales

Family Lecideaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Lecidea populina Mull Arg. ex Nyl. - (rediscovered) Colorado, USA Rediscovered Access

 

Family: Parmeliaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Bryoria divergescens (Nyl.) Brodo & D. Hawksw. - - Sichuan & Yunna, China Rediscovered Access
             
Parmotrema bifidum A.A. Spielm. & Marcelli   1894 Brazil Missing Access
             
Usnea lambii Imshaug, 1954 - - Washington, USA Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Ostropales

Family: Graphidaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Thelotrema philippinum Rivas Plata, Sipman & Lücking, 2014 - April 1916 Municipality of Irosin, Province of Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines Missing Access

 

Order: Peltigerales

Family: Pannariaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Erioderma asahinae Zahlbr. - 12 March 1926 Mount Kōya, Wakayama Prefecture, Kii Peninsula, Honshū, Japan Invalid (synonym) Access
             

Psoroma femsjonense

(Fr.) Trevis.   (rediscovered) Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden (all possibly extinct) & Turkey (extant) Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Teloschistales

Family: Teloschistaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Caloplaca allanii
Zahlbr. - - Waitakere Ranges coastline, west of Auckland, North Island, New Zealand Rediscovered Access
             
Caloplaca haematites (Chaub. ex St. -Amans) Zwackh - - Britain Rediscovered Access

 

Family: Physciaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Buellia setschwana (Zahlbr.) Q. Y. Zhong & Xin Y. Wang (2023) - (rediscovered) southwest China Rediscovered Access
             
Phaeophyscia leana (Tuck.) Essl. Lea's bog lichen (rediscovered) Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio & Tennessee, USA Rediscovered Access
             

Rinodina cornutula

Zahlbr. (1930) - (rediscovered) southwest China Rediscovered Access
             
Rinodina globulans Zahlbr. (1930) - (rediscovered) southwest China Rediscovered Access
             
Rinodina handelii Zahlbr. (1930) - (rediscovered) southwest China Rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Leotiomycetes

Order: Erysiphales

Family: Erysiphaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Cystotheca tjibodensis (Gäum.) Katumoto, 1973 - - Java, Indonesia Rediscovered Access
             
Erysiphe takamatsui Y. Nomura, 1997 - - Japan Rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Pezizomycetes

Order: Pezizales

Family: Discinaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Gyromitra ussuriensis Vassiljeva (1950)   (rediscovered) China, Japan, Far East Russia & South Korea Rediscovered Access 

 

Family: Pezizaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Paragalactinia hypoleuca (Boud. & Torrend) Van Vooren   (rediscovered) Corsica, France & Portugal Rediscovered Access
             
Paratricharina poiraultii (Boud.) Van Vooren, U. Lindemann,M.Vega, Ribes, Illescas & Matočec   (rediscovered) Croatia, Portugal & Spain Rediscovered Access 

 

 

Class: Sordariomycetes

Order: Hypocreales

Family: Hypocreaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Cylindrocarpostylus gregarius (Bres.) R. Kirschner & Oberw., 1999 - - Czech Republic & Germany Rediscovered Access

 

 

Order: Xylariales
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Poroisariopsis inornata (S.C.Jong & E.F.Morris) M.Morelet   (rediscovered) Costa Rica & Mexico Rediscovered Access

 

 

Family: incertae sedis
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Escovopsis aspergilloides Seifert et al., 1995 - - Brazil Rediscovered Access
             
Escovopsis weberi Muchovej & Della Lucia, 1990 - - Cuba Rediscovered Access

 

Class: incertae sedis

Order: incertae sedis

Family: incertae sedis
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Diploospora rosea Grove, 1916 - - Italy & Micronesia Rediscovered Access

 

 

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Family: Agaricaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Agaricus hahashimensis S.Ito & S.Imai, 1940 - 20 November 1936 Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Coprinus boninensis S.Ito & S.Imai, 1940 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Lepiota boninensis S.Ito & S.Imai, 1939 - 1930 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Lepiota locaniensis Espinosa, 1936 - 1946 Chile Extinct Access
             
Lepiota luteophylla Sundb.   1976 California, USA Missing Access

 

Family: Crepidotaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Crepidotus subpurpureus S.Ito & S.Imai (1940) - 1936 Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access

 

Family: Entolomataceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Rhodophyllus brunneolus (S. Ito & S. Imai) S. Ito, 1959 - ? Mount Asahi, Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Invalid (synonym) Access

 

Family: Hygrophoraceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Camarophyllus microbicolor (Ito & Imai) Ito, 1959 - 1936 Chichijima & Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Cora timucua
Lücking et al., 2021 Timucua heart lichen, Timucua lettuce basidiolichen 1985 Florida, USA Missing Access
             
Hygrocybe macrospora
(S. Ito & S. Imai) S. Ito, 1959 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Hygrocybe miniatostriata (S. Ito & S. Imai) S. Ito, 1959 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access

 

Family: Marasmiaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Campanella boninensis (S. Ito & S. Imai) Parmasto, 1981 - 1936 Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Neonothopanus gardneri (Berk. ex Gardner) Capelari, Desjardin, B.A.Perry, T.Asai, Stevani (2011) flor de coco, Gardner's Glowing mushroom - Brazil Rediscovered Access

 

Family: Nidulariaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Cyathus badius Kobayasi (1937) - - Chichijima & Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Rediscovered Access
             
Cyathus boninensis S.Ito & S.Imai (1937) - 4 November 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Retiperidiolia reticulata (Petch) Kraisit., Cheoyklin,Boonprat. & M.E. Sm.   (rediscovered) Sri Lanka & Thailand Rediscovered Access

 

Family: Pleurotaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Pleurotus cyatheae S.Ito & S.Imai (1939) - 15 November 1936 Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Pleurotus placentodes (Berk.) Sacc. (1887) - - China & India Rediscovered Access
 
Family: Pluteaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Pluteus daidoi
S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 Mount Kuwanoki, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Pluteus horridilamellus S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 Mount Kuwanoki, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Pluteus machidae S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 20 November 1936 Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Pluteus okabei S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 or later Mount Asahi, Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Pluteus verruculosus S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 or later Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access

 

Family: Psathyrellaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile

Hausknechtia leucosticta

(Pat.) Tkalčec, J.-Q. Yan, C. Nie & C.K. Pradeep (2022)   (rediscovered) China, India & Vietnam Rediscovered Access
             
Psathyrella boninensis (S. Ito & S. Imai) S. Ito, 1959 - 1936 Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Psathyrella cystidiosa (Peck) A.H. Sm., 1972 - - USA? Rediscovered or relocated Access
             
Psathyrella rhodospora M.G. Weaver & A.H. Sm., 1972 - - USA? Rediscovered or relocated Access

 

Family: Strophariaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Gymnopilus noviholocirrhus S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 Mount Kuwanoki, Hahajima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access

 

Family: Tricholomataceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Clitocybe castaneofloccosa S. Ito & S. Imai, 1939 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Collybia matris S. Ito & S. Imai, 1939 - 1936 Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access

 

 

Order: Boletales

Family: Boletaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Boletus nitidus violascens (Alb. & Schwein.) Mussat, 1900 - ? Switzerland Invalid (synonym) Access
             
Gastroboletus imbellus Trappe, 1969 - 1960's USA Missing Access
             
Octaviania macrospora Singer & A.H. Sm., 1960 - 1937 Oregon, USA Missing Access
             
Strobilomyces polypyramis Hook. f., in Berkeley, 1851 - - Sikkim, India Rediscovered Access

 

Family: Sclerodermataceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
 Scleroderma anomalosporum Baseia, B.D.B. Silva & M.P. Martín, 2016   (rediscovered) Brazil Rediscovered Access
             
Scleroderma camassuense M.P. Martín, Baseia & B.D.B. Silva, 2016 - ? Brazil Missing Access

 

Family: Sclerogastraceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Sclerogaster luteocarneus (Bresadola) Zeller & C.W. Dodge, 1935 - - Brazil Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Cantharellales

Family: Cantharellaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Cantharellus camphoratus R.H. Petersen, 1979 - - Canada Rediscovered Access

 

Order: Hysterangiales

Family: Hysterangiaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Circulocolumella hahashimensis (S. Ito & S. Imai) S. Ito & S. Imai - 1936 Mount Sekimon, Hahajima, Bonin Islands, Japan Missing Access

 

Order: Polyporales

Family: Polyporaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Lentinus lamelliporus Har. & Pat., 1902 - 1902 Tokyo administrative prefecture, Kantō region, Honshu, Japan Missing Access

 

 

Order: Russulales

Family: Albatrellaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Albatrellus cantharellus (Lloyd) Pouzar, 1972 - 1914 or later Miyagi Prefecture, Tōhoku region, Honshu, Japan Missing Access

 

Family: Russulaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Lactarius ogasawarashimensis S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Russula boninensis S. Ito & S. Imai, 1940 - 1936 Chichijima, Bonin Islands (=Ogasawara Islands), Japan Missing Access
             
Russula punctipes Singer, 1935 - (rediscovered) China Rediscovered Access

 

 

Class: Dacrymycetes

Order: Dacrymycetales

Family: Dacrymycetaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Dacrymyces pezizoides Kobayasi, 1939 - (rediscovered) Japan Rediscovered Access


 

Phylum: Chytridiomycota

Class: Chytridiomycetes

Order: Spizellomycetales

Family: Olpidiaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Nucleophaga amoebae P.A.Dang. (1895) - - Austria Rediscovered Access

 

Phylum: Entomophthoromycota

Class: Entomophthoromycetes 

Order: Entomophthorales

Family: Entomophthoraceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Erynia aquatica (J.F. Anderson & Anagnost.) Remaud. & Hennebert, 1980 - (rediscovered) New York, USA Rediscovered Access
             
Tarichium megaspermum Cohn, 1870   (rediscovered) Canada Rediscovered Access

 

 

Phylum: incertae sedis

Order: Mucorales

Family: Cunninghamellaceae
Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Status Taxon Profile
Cunninghamella homothallica Komin. & Tubaki 1952 - ? Japan Extinct in the wild Access

 

Notes:

1 Taxonomic ranks encompassed by square brackets (i.e. "[" and "]") have no relevant subordinate taxa. That is, none of the species or subspecies included therein both a) survived at least until the late Pleistocene and b) are considered missing, extinct, rediscovered, or have been removed from these former categories due to taxonomic invalidity. This juxtaposition of non-empty and empty taxonomic units helps to identify potential instances of taxonomic bias in recent extinctions, and by extension those groups of organisms that may have an innate buffer against extinction.

 

Appendix 1: Ichnotaxa

Scientific Name Author/s Common Name Last Record Distribution Formal description
Violinichnus punctatus Moura et al., 2021   ? Bahia, Brazil Moura, Jorge Felipe et al. (2021). Damaged armour: Ichnotaxonomy and paleoparasitology of bioerosion lesions in osteoderms of Quaternary extinct armadillos. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 109: 103255. [Abstract]