Acantholichen is a fungal genus in the family Hygrophoraceae. The genus was circumscribed by Norwegian lichenologist Per Magnus Jørgensen to contain the type, and at that time, only species, the basidiolichen Acantholichen pannarioides, discovered originally in Costa Rica in 1998. This species has a bluish, gelatinous thallus, and a fine, white powdery bloom covering the hairy upper surface; this surface is said to resemble "an unshaven chin". Five additional species, all basidiolichens, were added to the genus in 2016 following an in-depth analysis of specimens collected from the Galápagos, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia.
Cora is a large genus of basidiolichens in the family Hygrophoraceae. Modern molecular phylogenetics research has revealed a rich biodiversity in this largely tropical genus.
Cora arborescens is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, José Luis Chaves, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet arborescens refers to its growth on trees. The lichen is only known from the type locality near Cerro de la Muerte in Costa Rica.
Cora arcabucana is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, Camilo Rodríguez, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet arcabucana refers to the type locality in the Arcabuco,. The lichen grows on the twigs of shrubs and small trees in montane rainforests at altitudes between 2,500 and 3,000 m. Cora davidia is a closely related species.
Cora boleslia is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Eduardo Morales, and Manuela Dal Forno. The specific epithet boleslia refers to the type locality in Bolivia as well as the second name of mycologist David Leslie Hawksworth. The lichen is known to occur only in mountainous rainforests of the central Andes, where it grows on twigs in partial shade.
Cora canari is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Freddy Nugra, Manuela Dal Forno, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet canari refers to the Cañari people of pre-Incan Ecuador. The lichen is only known to occur at the type locality in the Morona-Santiago Province of Ecuador, where it grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks and branches.
Cora corani is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Eduardo Morales, and Manuela Dal Forno. The specific epithet corani refers to the type locality in the Corani Lake reservoir, the only place the lichen is known to occur. Here it grows on the ground over bryophytes and with other lichens.
Cora guajalitensis is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Ecuador, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, Javier Robayo, and Manuela Dal Forno. The specific epithet guajalitensis refers to the type locality in the Río Guajalito Protected Forest in Pichincha Province. The lichen is only known to occur at this location, where it grows on the ground in association with other lichens and mosses.
Cora hawksworthiana is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. It was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, Peter Nelson, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet hawksworthiana honours mycologist David Leslie Hawksworth "on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, for his innumerable contributions to mycology". The lichen occurs at altitudes above 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in the wet páramo of the northern Andes in Colombia, in Costa Rica, and in subalpine to temperate rainforest of Chile. It grows as an epiphyte on the partly shaded twigs of shrubs and small trees. Cora hawksworthiana is one of the few species in genus Cora that does not have a regionally or locally limited distribution.
Cora imi is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking, José Luis Chaves, and James D. Lawrey. The specific epithet imi is an acronym for the International Mycological Institute. The lichen is known only from the type collection, which was found at an altitude of about 3,400 m (11,200 ft) in the Los Santos Forest Reserve in Cerro de la Muerte. Here it was growing on the ground in páramo among bryophytes.
Cora itabaiana is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in northeastern Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, André Aptroot, and Marcela Cáceres. The specific epithet itabaiana indicates the type locality, Serra de Itabaiana, the only place the lichen has been scientifically documented. Here, in an Atlantic Forest ecoregion, it grows as an epiphyte.
Cora maxima is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Karina Wilk, Manuela Dal Forno, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet maxima refers to its relatively large size—its thallus grows up to 20 cm (8 in) across. The lichen is only known to occur in Bolivia, where it grows as an epiphyte in tropical mountainous rainforests.
Cora paraminor is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Costa Rica, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, José Luis Chaves, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet paraminor refers to its close relationship with Cora minor. Cora paraminor is known to occur only at the type locality at the Los Santos Forest Reserve in Cerro de la Muerte. Here it grows in mountainous forest as an epiphyte, on the twigs and branches of trees. Its phylogenetically distinct namesake, C. minor, is also found in Costa Rica, but in Chirripó National Park. The authors suggest this may represent an example of allopatric speciation resulting from geographic isolation of these two species caused by the two isolated, highest-altitude Costa Rican mountain peaks.
Cora pichinchensis is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Ecuador, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Telma Paredes, Harald Jonitz, and Manuela Dal Forno. The specific epithet pichinchensis refers to Pichincha Province, the province containing the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve–where the type locality is. The lichen occurs in the Andes of Ecuador, growing close to the ground and associating with bryophytes in shaded or partly shaded areas.
Cora pseudobovei is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Karina Wilk, Manuela Dal Forno, and Robert Lücking The specific epithet pseudobovei refers to its resemblance to Cora bovei. The lichen is only known from the type locality, located at an altitude of 4,677 m (15,344 ft) in Madidi National Park. Here, in this puna grassland ecoregion, it grows on the ground amongst mosses.
Cora pseudocorani is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Robert Lücking Eduardo Morales, and Manuela Dal Forno. The specific epithet pseudocorani refers to its resemblance to Cora corani, another terrestrial species found at the same location. Cora pseudocorani is only known to occur at the type locality, the Corani Lake reservoir in Chapare Province, Cochabamba. Here the lichen grows on the ground over bryophytes.
Cora santacruzensis is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in the Galapagos, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal Forno, Frank Bungartz, and Alba Yánez-Ayabaca. The specific epithet santacruzensis refers to Santa Cruz Island, the type locality where the lichen was first documented scientifically. Here it was found at an abandoned farm behind El Puntudo, where it was growing on a shaded branch of an avocado tree. A paratype specimen was collected from a Cinchona tree. The lichen is one of two presumably endemic Cora species found on the Galapagos; the other is Cora glabrata.
Cora terricoleslia is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Bolivia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Karina Wilk, Manuela Dal Forno, and Robert Lücking. The specific epithet terricoleslia combines a reference to the lichen's terricolous growth and also honours mycologist David Leslie Hawksworth. The lichen is only known to occur in the type locality–Chacaltaya in the Bolivian high Andes, at an altitude of 4,980 m (16,340 ft). This is the highest altitude recorded for a species of Cora. At this location, the lichen grows on the ground with mosses and other vegetation of the puna grassland.
Cora schizophylloides is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Colombia, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Bibiana Moncada, Camillo Rodríguez, and Robert Lücking. The type specimen was collected in the páramo of Guanacas-Las Delicias at an altitude of 3,330 m (10,930 ft). The specific epithet schizophylloides alludes to the resemblance of the dried lichen thallus with the fruitbody of the fungus Schizophyllum commune. The lichen is only known from the type locality, where it grows as an epiphyte on páramo shrubs. The terrestrial species Cora hirsuta is closely related.
Acantholichen campestris is a species of basidiolichen in the family Hygrophoraceae. Found in Brazil, it was formally described as a new species in 2016 by Manuela Dal-Forno, Adriano Spielmann, and Robert Lücking. The type specimen was collected in Campos do Quiriri at an altitude of 1,380 m (4,530 ft). Here, at the top of the mountain on exposed rocky outcrops, it was found growing on rocks growing amongst liverworts and other lichens. The specific epithet, which contains the Latin word campis, refers to the habitat of the lichen. Acantholichen campestris is the only member of the genus which, instead of growing on bark, overgrows lichens and liverworts that inhabit rock.
