Umbilicaria murihikuana is a rare species of saxicolous (rock-dwelling) lichen in the family Umbilicariaceae.

[1] It is endemic to New Zealand, where it occurs in mountainous, high-rainfall areas of Otago and Southland.

It grows on exposed rocks and boulders at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,500 m (3,300 and 4,900 ft), in subalpine to alpine habitats.

The type specimen was collected by the first author at the head of Rockburn (Otago), at an altitude of 1,433 m (4,701 ft); there it was found growing on the tops of boulders, in association with the foliose lichen species Menegazzia inflata.

[2] The type specimen, collected by Galloway in May 1968, waited 37 years in the herbarium of the Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research before being correctly classified and formally recognized as new species.