Angiactis spinicola
Did you know that the diversity of the Galapagos also extends to lichens? A. spinicola is one of several lichen species endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where it grows on the twigs and spines of shrubs and trees near the coast. It has a dense, white, crustose thallus covered in lots of wart-like, elongated or irregular apothecia. The apothecia have a pronounced thalline margin and thin black discs obscured by a thick layer of pale pruina. A. spinicola has a Trentepohlioid photobiont. The genus Angiactis was only described in 2008, with only 4 recognized species thus far. 2 of these species are located in Australia, while another is endemic to the Bahamas. With such a disjunct and unique distribution pattern, this genus must have an interesting history. Gets me thinkin, ya know?
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