CR

Brunellia rufa

Declining

Overview

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

Brunellia rufa faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited montane cloud forest range in the northern Andes. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for cloud forest ecosystems, potentially shifting suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.

Threat summary

Habitat

Brunellia rufa is endemic to montane cloud forests of the northern Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,800-3,000 meters. These humid, mist-shrouded forests are characterized by persistent cloud cover, high moisture levels, and rich epiphyte communities that this species depends upon.

Other threatened species in BRUNELLIACEAE

VU

Brunellia pallida

Stable
VU

Brunellia costaricensis

Unknown
VU

Brunellia standleyana

Unknown
EN

Brunellia racemifera

Declining

Threatened in Colombia

EN

Helena's Marsupial Frog

Gastrotheca helenae

Stable
EN

Varied White-fronted Capuchin

Cebus versicolor

Declining
VU

Chaceus ibiricensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Brunellia rufa classified as Critically Endangered?
Brunellia rufa 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. Brunellia rufa faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited montane cloud forest range in the northern Andes. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for cloud forest ecosystems, potentially shifting suitable habitat to higher elevations where less area is available.
Where does Brunellia rufa live?
Brunellia rufa occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Brunellia rufa?
The main threats to Brunellia rufa 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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