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Athenaea sellowiana

Declining

Overview

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

Athenaea sellowiana faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction across Brazil's Atlantic Forest region. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, has fragmented the species' remaining forest patches. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to reduce available habitat, while the species' limited dispersal ability prevents recolonization of restored areas.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of southeastern Brazil, inhabiting humid lowland and montane forests. It typically occurs in primary and well-preserved secondary forest understory, requiring dense canopy cover and specific soil conditions for successful reproduction.

Other threatened species in SOLANACEAE

VU

Schwenckia trujilloi

Stable
VU

Solanum reitzii

Unknown
CR

Withania chevalieri

Unknown
VU

Solandra nizandensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Athenaea sellowiana classified as Endangered?
Athenaea sellowiana is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Athenaea sellowiana faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive habitat destruction across Brazil's Atlantic Forest region. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, has fragmented the species' remaining forest patches. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to reduce available habitat, while the species' limited dispersal ability prevents recolonization of restored areas.
Where does Athenaea sellowiana live?
Athenaea sellowiana 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 Athenaea sellowiana?
The main threats to Athenaea sellowiana 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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