CR

Aetheolaena pichinchensis

Unknown

Overview

Aetheolaena pichinchensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found only in Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and subtropical or tropical high-elevation shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Aetheolaena pichinchensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in Ecuador's Andean slopes. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for its survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already limited habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Ecuadorian species inhabits cloud forests and humid montane forests on the eastern Andean slopes, typically occurring at elevations between 2,000-3,000 meters. It requires specific microclimatic conditions with high humidity and consistent cloud cover that characterize these threatened Andean ecosystems.

Other threatened species in ASTERACEAE

EN

Bidens cosmoides

Declining
VU

Piptolepis monticola

Unknown
Libanothamnus parvulusCR

Libanothamnus parvulus

Declining
EN

Gynoxys neovelutina

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Aetheolaena pichinchensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Aetheolaena pichinchensis 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. Aetheolaena pichinchensis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in Ecuador's Andean slopes. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for its survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment its already limited habitat.
Where does Aetheolaena pichinchensis live?
Aetheolaena pichinchensis 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 Aetheolaena pichinchensis?
The main threats to Aetheolaena pichinchensis are 5.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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