Polyscias rodriguesiana
CR

Polyscias rodriguesiana

Declining

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

Overview

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

Polyscias rodriguesiana faces severe threats from habitat destruction on Rodrigues Island, where its native forest habitat has been almost entirely cleared for agriculture and development. The species is critically endangered due to its extremely restricted range and the ongoing degradation of remaining forest fragments. Invasive plant species further threaten the few surviving individuals by competing for resources and altering the native ecosystem structure.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic tree species inhabits the remnant native forests of Rodrigues Island in the Mascarene Islands. It occurs in montane forest fragments at higher elevations where some native vegetation persists despite widespread habitat conversion.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Polyscias rodriguesiana classified as Critically Endangered?
Polyscias rodriguesiana 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. Polyscias rodriguesiana faces severe threats from habitat destruction on Rodrigues Island, where its native forest habitat has been almost entirely cleared for agriculture and development. The species is critically endangered due to its extremely restricted range and the ongoing degradation of remaining forest fragments. Invasive plant species further threaten the few surviving individuals by competing for resources and altering the native ecosystem structure.
Where does Polyscias rodriguesiana live?
Polyscias rodriguesiana occurs in Mauritius. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Polyscias rodriguesiana?
The main threats to Polyscias rodriguesiana 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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