Chocolate Rim Lichen vs

Protoparmelia badia compared with Protoparmelia hypotremella

Key Differences

• Chocolate Rim Lichen is Near Threatened while is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Chocolate Rim Lichen
Kingdom same	Fungi (균계)	Fungi (균계)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (자낭균류)	Ascomycota (자낭균류)
Class same	Lecanoromycetes (요강버섯강)	Lecanoromycetes (요강버섯강)
Order same	Lecanorales (레카노라목)	Lecanorales (레카노라목)
Family same	Parmeliaceae	Parmeliaceae
Genus same	Protoparmelia	Protoparmelia
Species	Protoparmelia badia	Protoparmelia hypotremella

Evolutionary Relationship

Chocolate Rim Lichen and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Protoparmelia.

Conservation Status

Chocolate Rim Lichen

NT — Near Threatened

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Chocolate Rim Lichen
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Chocolate Rim Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway, Sweden, and United States.

Chocolate Rim Lichen

The Chocolate Rim Lichen (Protoparmelia badia) is a crustose lichen in the family Parmeliaceae, found on exposed siliceous and acid rocks in montane and subalpine environments across Europe, North America, and other temperate and boreal regions. Crustose lichens form a tightly adhering crust directly on rock surfaces and lack the lobed margins of foliose lichens, making them impossible to remove from substrate without destroying the thallus. Protoparmelia badia forms a thin, pale grey to brownish-grey thallus with conspicuous reddish-brown to dark chocolate-brown apothecia (disc-shaped reproductive structures), from which the common name derives. The species is typical of well-lit, clean-air rocky habitats such as mountain summits, upland heathland, and acidic outcrops. Like many lichens, it is a pioneer coloniser of bare rock surfaces and contributes to the initial stages of soil formation. The IUCN classifies P. badia as Near Threatened, reflecting concerns about declining populations linked to air pollution — lichens are renowned biological indicators of air quality, being highly sensitive to sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia — as well as climate change effects on montane habitats and disturbance from rock climbing and other outdoor recreation.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States