Endococcus Nyl., Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 3: 193 (1855).
MycoBank number: MB 1791; Index Fungorum number: IF 1791; Facesoffungi number FoF 00560; 40 morphological species (Species Fungorum 2020), 1 species with molecular data.
Type species: Endococcus rugulosus Nyl., Mém. Soc. Imp. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 3: 193 (1855).
=Verrucaria rugulosa Borrer ex Leight., Brit. Sp. Ang. Lich.: 47 (1851).
Notes: Endococcus species occur on crustose, foliose, and fruticose lichens and some are lichenicolous, while others colonize diverse rock types (Halıcı et al. 2007; Knudsen 2008; Jayasiri et al. Hong). Species are commonly host specific, while some species have wide host ranges (Halıcı et al. 2007; Jayasiri et al. 2016). Endococcus was affiliated in Dothideales (Hawksworth 1979). However, the taxonomic placement of this genus has changed over time (Hafellner 2019). Jayasiri et al (2016a) transferred this genus to Lichenotheliaceae based on the morphological characteristics, such as perithecioid ascomata with widely porate ostioles, globose to broadly clavate asci and hyaline or brown with 1-septate ascospores. However, Diederich et al (2018) accepted this genus under Verrucariaceae while Wijayawardene et al (2018) accepted in uncertain placement in Dothideomycetes. Molecular data are lacking for this genus and needs critical revision (Hafellner 2019).
Species