Acalypha rapensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Acalypha rapensis faces severe threats from its extremely limited distribution on Rapa Island in French Polynesia, where the entire population is confined to a single location. Invasive plant species compete directly with this endemic shrub for resources and habitat space, while introduced herbivores damage native vegetation communities. The species' restriction to steep coastal cliffs and rocky slopes makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and climate-related impacts including sea level rise and increased storm intensity.
Habitat
This endemic shrub is restricted to steep coastal cliffs, rocky slopes, and exposed ridges on Rapa Island in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia. It typically grows in sparse, wind-exposed vegetation communities on volcanic substrates at elevations up to several hundred meters above sea level.