Rabbit Moss (Cheilothela chloropus)
Key Details
| Taxonomic Groups: | Non-vascular plant (incl. chromists) > moss > Moss |
| Red List Status: | Endangered (Not Relevant) [EN(nr)] |
| D5 Status: | Included in the baseline Red List Index for England (Wilkins, Wilson & Brown, 2022) |
| Section 41 Status: | (not listed) |
| Taxa Included Synonym: | (none) |
| UKSI Recommended Name: | Cheilothela chloropus |
| UKSI Recommended Authority: | (Brid.) Lindb. |
| UKSI Recommended Qualifier: | (none specified) |
| Red List Citation: | Callaghan, 2023 |
| Notes on taxonomy/listing: | (none) |
Criteria
| Question 1: | Does species need conservation or recovery in England? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | At risk of extinction in England due to small population size |
| Question 2: | Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions? |
| Response: | Yes |
| Justification: | A species with low recovery potential where the main aim is to maintain/protect populations, though reintroduction to a former site may be possible. A national monitoring programme is being implemented and results suggest surviving sites are presently in favourable condition. |
| Question 3: | At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages? |
| Response: | No |
| Justification: | The species has a restricted distribution and so is unlikely to benefit from untargeted actions |
Species Assessment
| Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): | 6. Recovery solutions trialled |
| Recovery potential/expectation: | Medium-high |
| National Monitoring Resource: | Opportunistic - sufficient |
| Species Comments: | GB RL criteria: D1. Mediterranean Oceanic species. A national monitoring plan is presently being implemented. Potential additional action: Provide advice to land managers on locations occupied by the species and its habitat management requirements. |
Key Actions
Key Action 1
Proposed Action: Assess feasibility and develop a plan for reintroduction to Burrington Combe
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: (Re-)introduction
Duration: 1 year
Scale of Implementation: 1 site
High priority sites: Burrington Combe SSSI
Comments: Historically known from Burrington Combe (North Somerset), where reintroduction may be a possibility.
Key Action 2
Proposed Action: Develop ex situ cultivation for use in reintroduction trial
Action targets: 6. Recovery solutions trialled
Action type: Ex situ conservation
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: Not applicable
High priority sites:
Comments: Not presently in cryopreservation or in culture
Key Action 3
Proposed Action: Undertake research to better understand the ecology and habitat requirements of the species.
Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood
Action type: Scientific research
Duration: 3-5 years
Scale of Implementation: National
High priority sites:
Comments:
Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.