CR

Acharagma aguirreanum

Declining

Overview

Acharagma aguirreanum is a critically endangered microendemic cactus. It has a range of about one square kilometer in the calcareous semi-desert of the Sierra de la Paila in Coahuila, Mexico. Its population is estimated at less than 1000 individuals. Its only major threat is illegal collecting.

Acharagma aguirreanum faces severe threats from limestone quarrying operations that directly destroy its specialized habitat in the Sierra de la Paila mountains. The species' extremely restricted range makes it vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation from mining activities. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the delicate moisture balance required by this desert cactus.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered cactus is endemic to limestone outcrops and rocky slopes in the Sierra de la Paila mountains of Coahuila, Mexico. It grows in extremely arid desert scrubland at elevations between 1,200-1,500 meters, requiring specific soil chemistry and drainage conditions found only in weathered limestone substrates.

Desert· major

Conservation measures underway

Legislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Acharagma aguirreanum classified as Critically Endangered?
Acharagma aguirreanum is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Acharagma aguirreanum faces severe threats from limestone quarrying operations that directly destroy its specialized habitat in the Sierra de la Paila mountains. The species' extremely restricted range makes it vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation from mining activities. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the delicate moisture balance required by this desert cactus.
Where does Acharagma aguirreanum live?
Acharagma aguirreanum occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Acharagma aguirreanum?
The main threats to Acharagma aguirreanum are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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