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biatorella lichen

Scientific Name: Biatorella hemisphaerica

Family: Biatorellaceae

Category: Lichen

Growth: Lichenous

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Biatorella Lichen

This page provides information about the lichen genus Biatorella and various species within it.

Considerations for Pets

  • Biatorella lichens are described as having minute structures, with some species having diameters of approximately 0.05-0.2 (-0.3) mm.

Scientific Name and Common Names

  • Scientific Name: Biatorella De Not.
  • Common Name: Biatorella Lichen

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Kingdom: Fungi
  • Family: Biatorellaceae
  • Rank: Genus (for Biatorella), Species (for various species like Biatorella fossarum, Biatorella plicata, Biatorella rappii, etc.)
  • Synonyms: Biatorella kulshanensis is considered a synonym for Sporastatia; Biatorella microhaema Norman is a synonym. Piccolia A.Massal. has been considered a synonym for Biatorella De. Not.
  • Authority: De Not. (for the genus), (Duf) Th. Fr. (for Biatorella fossarum)

Distribution and Habitat

  • Biatorella fossarum is found in the USA and Canada.
  • Biatorella clauzadeana is an obligate gypsophilous lichen from Spain (Almeria).
  • Biatorella saxicola has been found in Hong Kong.
  • Biatorella contigua is a terricolous lichen from the Taimyr Peninsula.
  • Several species are reported from Central Poland, Singapore, and other regions.
  • Some species, like Biatorella fossarum, grow on bare compacted soil.
  • Some species, like Biatorella terrena, are rare terricolous species from southern California.
  • Some species are found in conifer forests and low birch/ericaceous vegetation.

Ecological Role

  • Some Biatorella species are terricolous (growing on soil).
  • Biatorella clauzadeana is gypsophilous, meaning it grows on gypsum-rich soils.
  • Acarospora interjecta is a lichenicolous lichen, meaning it parasitizes other lichens.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Some species have a thallus that is usually absent or irregularly granular, sometimes scurfy with a pale gray surface.
  • Biatorella and Sarcosagium both have bacilliform ascospores and are terricolous.
  • Some species have minute structures, with diameters of approximately 0.05-0.2 (-0.3) mm.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Acarospora interjecta is a lichenicolous lichen, meaning it parasitizes other lichens (specifically, it parasitizes the yellow effigurate lichen).

Resources and Further Information

  • British Lichen Society (BLS)
  • Lichen Flora of the Greater Sonoran Desert Region
  • The Lichens of Great Britain and Ireland
  • ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System)
  • Te Papa Museum (for holotype specimen of Biatorella antarctica)