Mammillaria schwarzii
CR

Mammillaria schwarzii

Declining

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammillaria_schwarzii

Overview

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

Mammillaria schwarzii faces severe population decline due to illegal collection for the international cactus trade, with its distinctive appearance making it highly sought after by collectors. The species' extremely restricted range in limestone hills of Nuevo León, Mexico, makes entire populations vulnerable to overcollection. Habitat degradation from limestone quarrying and urban expansion around Monterrey further threatens the remaining fragmented populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species is endemic to limestone hills and rocky outcrops in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Nuevo León, Mexico, typically growing in crevices and on steep slopes at elevations between 400-800 meters. It requires well-drained calcareous soils and thrives in the semi-arid scrubland vegetation characteristic of the Chihuahuan Desert region.

Forest· majorForest - Temperate· majorDesert· major

Conservation measures underway

LegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in CACTACEAE

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Opuntia megarrhiza

Declining

Threatened in Mexico

EN

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mammillaria schwarzii classified as Critically Endangered?
Mammillaria schwarzii 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. Mammillaria schwarzii faces severe population decline due to illegal collection for the international cactus trade, with its distinctive appearance making it highly sought after by collectors. The species' extremely restricted range in limestone hills of Nuevo León, Mexico, makes entire populations vulnerable to overcollection. Habitat degradation from limestone quarrying and urban expansion around Monterrey further threatens the remaining fragmented populations.
Where does Mammillaria schwarzii live?
Mammillaria schwarzii occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Mammillaria schwarzii?
The main threats to Mammillaria schwarzii 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.