Coccothrinax leonis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Coccothrinax leonis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted Cuban range. The species is particularly vulnerable to mining activities and infrastructure development that fragment its already limited populations. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased hurricane intensity, which can devastate the small remaining stands of this endemic palm.
Habitat
This endemic Cuban palm inhabits dry coastal forests and scrublands on limestone substrates, typically growing in areas with well-drained soils. It occurs in fragmented patches of native vegetation that have largely been converted to agricultural or urban use.
