EN

Columnea atahualpae

Unknown

Overview

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

Columnea atahualpae faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Andean range. The species' specialized epiphytic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as it requires intact cloud forest canopy structure for survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development in montane regions further threaten remaining populations by destroying critical host trees and altering local microclimates.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic plant inhabits humid montane cloud forests of the Andes, typically growing on moss-covered tree branches and trunks at elevations between 1,500-2,800 meters. It requires consistent moisture and filtered light conditions found in the understory and mid-canopy of primary and well-developed secondary forests.

Other threatened species in GESNERIACEAE

EN

Streptocarpus brachynema

Declining
EN

Streptocarpus erubescens

Declining
VU

Pearcea cordata

Unknown
EN

Streptocarpus burundianus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Columnea atahualpae classified as Endangered?
Columnea atahualpae is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Columnea atahualpae faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Andean range. The species' specialized epiphytic lifestyle makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as it requires intact cloud forest canopy structure for survival. Mining activities and infrastructure development in montane regions further threaten remaining populations by destroying critical host trees and altering local microclimates.
Where does Columnea atahualpae live?
Columnea atahualpae occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Columnea atahualpae?
The main threats to Columnea atahualpae 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.

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