Cleopatra athiensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cleopatra athiensis faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and urban development throughout its limited range in the Ethiopian highlands. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded much of its native grassland habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and precipitation zones beyond the species' adaptive capacity. The fragmented nature of remaining populations makes them particularly vulnerable to local extinctions from drought events or habitat conversion.
Habitat
This species inhabits montane grasslands and scrublands in the Ethiopian highlands, typically at elevations between 2,000-3,500 meters. It shows preference for areas with scattered acacia trees and seasonal wetlands that provide both shelter and breeding sites.
