Costus geothyrsus
CR

Costus geothyrsus

Declining

Photo: (c) permaculturacaimito, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by permaculturacaimito

Overview

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

Costus geothyrsus faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Southeast Asian lowland forests. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented remaining populations, while the species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns affecting the moist forest conditions this species depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

Costus geothyrsus inhabits moist lowland tropical forests, typically found in shaded understory environments with high humidity and consistent moisture levels. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions including well-drained but consistently moist soils and protection from direct sunlight.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in COSTACEAE

VU

Cheilocostus borneensis

Stable
VU

Costus bullatus

Stable
VU

Costus eburneus

Stable
VU

Costus muluensis

Stable

Threatened in Ecuador

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
EN

Puya longispina

Unknown
VU

Wolf Volcano Giant Tortoise

Chelonoidis becki

Unknown
EN

Chelonoidis chathamensis

Increasing

Frequently asked questions

Why is Costus geothyrsus classified as Critically Endangered?
Costus geothyrsus 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. Costus geothyrsus faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Southeast Asian lowland forests. Mining activities and infrastructure development have fragmented remaining populations, while the species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns affecting the moist forest conditions this species depends upon.
Where does Costus geothyrsus live?
Costus geothyrsus occurs in Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Costus geothyrsus?
The main threats to Costus geothyrsus are 2.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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