Eriosyce chilensis
CR

Eriosyce chilensis

Declining

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

Overview

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

Eriosyce chilensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban expansion and agricultural development in Chile's coastal regions. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented the remaining populations, while illegal collection for the horticultural trade continues to pressure wild populations. Climate change is exacerbating drought conditions in its already arid habitat, reducing reproductive success and survival rates.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered cactus is endemic to Chile's coastal desert regions, inhabiting rocky slopes and sandy flats in extremely arid environments. It occurs in specialized microhabitats with well-drained soils and specific moisture conditions typical of the Atacama Desert periphery.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Other threatened species in CACTACEAE

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Opuntia megarrhiza

Declining

Threatened in Chile

VU

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

Stable
VU

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable
VU

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Declining
VU

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Eriosyce chilensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Eriosyce chilensis 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. Eriosyce chilensis faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from urban expansion and agricultural development in Chile's coastal regions. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented the remaining populations, while illegal collection for the horticultural trade continues to pressure wild populations. Climate change is exacerbating drought conditions in its already arid habitat, reducing reproductive success and survival rates.
Where does Eriosyce chilensis live?
Eriosyce chilensis occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Eriosyce chilensis?
The main threats to Eriosyce chilensis 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.