Centropogon heteropilis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Centropogon heteropilis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited range in the Western Ghats. Mining activities and quarrying operations have further fragmented its forest habitat, while collection pressure for the aquarium trade has intensified due to its distinctive appearance. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the freshwater systems this species depends upon.
Habitat
This species inhabits fast-flowing streams and rivers in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats, typically found in areas with rocky substrates and dense canopy cover. It prefers well-oxygenated waters at elevations between 200-800 meters in pristine forest environments.
