Coccothrinax fagildei
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccothrinax_fagildei
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Coccothrinax fagildei faces severe pressure from habitat destruction driven by agricultural expansion and urban development across its limited Cuban range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes entire populations vulnerable to single disturbance events, while its slow growth rate hampers natural recovery from habitat fragmentation. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns and increased hurricane intensity, which can devastate the small, isolated populations that characterize this endemic palm.
Habitat
This endemic Cuban palm inhabits dry coastal forests and scrublands, typically growing on limestone substrates and sandy soils in areas with seasonal rainfall patterns. The species is adapted to the specific microclimatic conditions of Cuba's coastal zones, where it forms part of the understory vegetation in semi-deciduous tropical dry forests.
