Coco Cristal
Lecythis tuyrana
Coco Cristal (Lecythis tuyrana) is a tropical tree species belonging to the Brazil nut family, characterized by its distinctive woody capsules that split open to release large seeds. This canopy tree produces showy flowers and plays a crucial ecological role as a food source for various mammals and birds that disperse its seeds throughout the forest.
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) May Bedoya, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by May Bedoya
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Family
Lecythidaceae
Genus
Lecythis
Coco Cristal belongs to the family Lecythidaceae, order Ericales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Coco Cristal (Lecythis tuyrana) is a tropical tree species belonging to the Brazil nut family, characterized by its distinctive woody capsules that split open to release large seeds. This canopy tree produces showy flowers and plays a crucial ecological role as a food source for various mammals and birds that disperse its seeds throughout the forest.
Coco Cristal faces significant pressure from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Central America. The species' dependence on mature forest ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to logging activities and agricultural expansion, while its restricted distribution increases extinction risk from localized threats.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits tropical moist lowland and premontane forests, typically found in primary and mature secondary forest ecosystems with well-developed canopy structure. Occurs at elevations from sea level to approximately 1,200 meters in areas with high rainfall and humid conditions.
Threats
Agricultural expansion
Deforestation and logging
Habitat fragmentation
Infrastructure development
Limited geographic range
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Coco Cristal (Lecythis tuyrana). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/coco-cristal