Fauna
Fungus

Reindeer Lichen

Cladonia rangiferina

Also known as Reindeer Cup Lichen, Grey Reindeer Lichen, Caribou Moss

Reindeer lichen forms dense, intricately branched, greyish-white carpet colonies across boreal forests and arctic tundra. These slow-growing lichens rely on photosynthetic green algae nestled within a fungal matrix to convert sunlight and atmospheric moisture into energy. During dry spells, the delicate branches become extremely brittle and snap easily underfoot, but rapidly regain a soft, spongy texture after rain or snowmelt.

TundraSymbioticFruticose
Reindeer Lichen reference1 / 7
Jason Hollinger / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic algae symbiosis)
Predators
  • Reindeer
  • Caribou
  • Muskoxen
ThreatsHabitat disruption, severe wildfires, climate change, trampling
HabitatsAlpine tundra, boreal forest, pine barrens, rocky tundra
Life spanDecades to over 100 years
Classification
  1. OrderLecanorales
  2. FamilyCladoniaceae
  3. GenusCladonia
  4. SpeciesCladonia rangiferina
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance; avoid trampling brittle mats and never consume wild lichens.
Responsible observation
  • Tread carefully: Avoid stepping on dry lichen carpets, which break easily and take years to regrow.
  • Inspect the branching: Look for intricate, three-dimensional branches without open cup tops.
  • Observe texture changes: Touch gently after rain to feel how dry brittleness shifts to soft elasticity.
Related species
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