Assessment Notes

Justification

This species is known from three sites in Guyana, where a tiny fraction of its possible suitable habitat has been surveyed. It has been found at all three sites surveyed for it, and so this may be a common and widespread species: potential host plants occur in a large region encompassing parts of Venezuela, northern Brazil and southeast Colombia. However, these three sites are in close proximity to each other, and it may be dependent upon an unknown animal vector and be potentially restricted. This entire region is very under-sampled, being very remote and completely unsurveyed. In total approximately 0.002% of its potential suitable habitat has been surveyed for fungi. It is not possible to estimate population size or trends, Extent of Occurrence, or Area of Occupancy. Increasing threats from timber and mineral extraction, and land use changes are anticipated, with the potential for these to be rapid if further road construction occurs. It is therefore assessed as Data Deficient, and further survey work in this region is urgently needed.

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Taxonomic notes

This species was recently described by Castellano et al. (2012).

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Geographic range

All known collections have been found in Dicymbe-dominated forests in Guyana. There are two main collection areas. Most of the collections are known from the Upper Potaro River Basin (Region 8, Potaro-Siparuni) within a 15 km radius of a permanent base camp at 5.013, -59.111. One additional collection is known from the Mabura Ecological Reserve (Region 10, Upper Demarara- Berbice) in forests with Dicymbe altsonii (5.333, -58.700). After the original publication by Castellano et al. (2012) this species was subsequently found at a third site in the Upper Mazaruni River Basin (5.439, -60.079) with Dicymbe jenmanii and Pakaraimaea dipterocarpacea (Smith et al. 2013). This entire region is very under-sampled, and there are areas in neighbouring Venezuela, northern Brazil and south-east Colombia with similar habitats but which are very remote and completely unsurveyed.

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Population and Trends

This species has been found in three different sites in Guyana in forests that are dominated by Dicymbe species. It may be a common ectomycorrhizal associate of Dicymbe across the wider Guiana Shield region; however, this is unknown. The animal vector required for its dispersal is also unknown. It is, therefore, not possible to estimate how many additional sites it could be found at and, therefore, its population size is entirely unknown.

Population Trend: unknown

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Habitat and Ecology

Elaphomyces compleximurus is found in the Dicymbe-dominated forests as ascomata and on ECM roots. Pakaraimaea dipterocarpacea was also present at one collecting site and might act as an ectomycorrhizal host for this species.

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Threats

Current threats include climate change and small-scale mineral extraction that can cause habitat disturbance and water pollution although these threats are currently not thought to be severe as much of the interior of the region is very remote. Future threats from timber and mineral extraction, and land use changes are anticipated, with the potential for these to be rapid if further road construction occurs. Further impacts of climate change, particularly droughts, are also anticipated.

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Conservation Actions

No conservation actions are currently in place for this species. In many places, the forest is currently generally in good condition, but not protected. Protection of habitat is needed to safeguard it in the long term. Further surveying is required, as current records of the species are scarce.

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Use and Trade

There is no known use of this species.

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Source and Citation

Dentinger, B. & Smith, M. 2020. Elaphomyces compleximurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T172740855A172861212. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T172740855A172861212.en .Accessed on 31 January 2022

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• Country occurrence