Astrocaryum minus
CR

Astrocaryum minus

Unknown

Photo: (c) Sébastien SANT, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sébastien SANT

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Astrocaryum minus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion of its native Atlantic Forest habitat in Brazil. The species is particularly vulnerable to palm heart harvesting, where entire trees are cut down to extract the edible terminal bud, preventing regeneration. Urban expansion and cattle ranching have fragmented remaining populations into isolated patches, reducing genetic diversity and limiting natural recruitment.

Threat summary

Habitat

This palm species is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of southeastern Brazil, typically growing in humid lowland and montane forests. It prefers well-drained soils in primary forest understory and forest edges, occurring at elevations up to 800 meters.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Astrocaryum minus classified as Critically Endangered?
Astrocaryum minus 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. Astrocaryum minus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion of its native Atlantic Forest habitat in Brazil. The species is particularly vulnerable to palm heart harvesting, where entire trees are cut down to extract the edible terminal bud, preventing regeneration. Urban expansion and cattle ranching have fragmented remaining populations into isolated patches, reducing genetic diversity and limiting natural recruitment.
Where does Astrocaryum minus live?
Astrocaryum minus occurs in French Guiana. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Astrocaryum minus?
The main threats to Astrocaryum minus are 5.3, 7.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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