CR

Coryanthes villegasiana

Declining

Overview

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

Coryanthes villegasiana faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in its limited range within Colombian cloud forests. The species' highly specialized pollination relationship with specific euglossine bee species makes it particularly vulnerable to ecosystem disruption. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have significantly reduced suitable habitat, while climate change threatens the delicate moisture and temperature conditions required for this epiphytic orchid's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic orchid inhabits humid cloud forests and montane rainforests of Colombia, typically growing on tree branches in the forest canopy at elevations between 1,000-2,000 meters. The species requires consistently high humidity and stable temperatures characteristic of these specialized Andean ecosystems.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Coryanthes villegasiana classified as Critically Endangered?
Coryanthes villegasiana is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Coryanthes villegasiana faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in its limited range within Colombian cloud forests. The species' highly specialized pollination relationship with specific euglossine bee species makes it particularly vulnerable to ecosystem disruption. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have significantly reduced suitable habitat, while climate change threatens the delicate moisture and temperature conditions required for this epiphytic orchid's survival.
Where does Coryanthes villegasiana live?
Coryanthes villegasiana occurs in Colombia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Coryanthes villegasiana?
The main threats to Coryanthes villegasiana are 2.1, 3.2, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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