Teloschistes peruensis is distinguished by its ability to form extensive, rounded colonies, reaching dimensions of 30–40 cm (12–16 in) in diameter and approximately 8 cm (3+1⁄8 in) in height. In its natural habitat, the lobes of this species show a vivid deep orange hue, though they tend to become brown once preserved in a herbarium. The lobes are intricately interwoven, with a dichotomous branching pattern, and measure between 0.2 and 0.5 mm in width and 2–4 cm (13⁄16–1+9⁄16 in) in height. This species is adorned with long, tapering cilia that form irregularly along the edges and at the tips of the lobes, which are either cylindrical or partly flattened and occasionally display channel-like depressions with fissures that open unpredictably along the thallus.[3]
The surface of Teloschistes peruensis is smooth and matte, with varying concentrations of short, transparent fibrils that become apparent under 20x magnification. This species does not produce soredia and is devoid of isidia, which are vegetative structures (propagules) that aid in reproduction and dispersion. Additionally, both apothecia and pycnidia, which are structures associated with sexual and asexual reproduction, respectively, have not been observed in this species.[3]
Teloschistes peruensis is adapted to the open, arid, and sandy environments of the coastal fog deserts in south-central Peru and north-central Chile, thriving primarily in areas with significant fog influence, especially from May to November. In Peru, it forms part of a unique ecosystem alongside ephemeral desert annuals and perennial cacti, existing in isolated lichen meadows at 550 m (1,800 ft) elevation, it also establishes itself loosely on sandy soils or as an epiphyte overgrowing shrubs and other lichens. The small Chilean population, however, exists exclusively as an epiphyte, typically in association with the lichen Ramalina usnea on various shrub species.[1]
A rare lichen, the range of Teloschistes peruensis includes a few sites in Peru and one in Chile, with confirmed populations being exceptionally scarce. In Peru, reports from Otuzco in La Libertad are questionable; a historical specimen's collection site is potentially misreported, and recent identifications suggest a possible confusion with a different species, casting doubt on its presence in the region. In Callao, Lima, and Camaná, Arequipa, the species is considered extirpated, with habitats in Callao having been overtaken by urban development. The only verified existing population in Peru was found in the Lomas de Amara and Ullujaya in Ica Province, occupying a very limited area and discovered after meticulous surveys, including the use of aerial drones. Across the border in Chile, a tiny subpopulation persists at Pan de Azúcar, with only about 10 to 15 living individuals. This lichen's overall distribution is thus highly fragmented and limited, highlighting its vulnerability and the importance of its conservation.[1]
Conservation
Teloschistes peruensis has only two extant subpopulations: a small one in Pan de Azúcar, Chile, with 10 to 15 individuals covering less than 100 square metres (1,100 sq ft), and a larger, terrestrial subpopulation in the lomas of Amara and Ullujaya in Ica, Peru, comprising up to 100 individuals spread over an area under 1 square kilometre (0.4 sq mi), with an additional unconfirmed report from La Libertad, Peru.[1]
^Müller, J. (1883). "Revisio Lichenum Meyenianorum". Jahrbuch des Königlichen Botanischen Gartens und des Botanischen Museums zu Berlin (in Latin). 2: 308–319.
