Costus vinosus
CR

Costus vinosus

Declining

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

Overview

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

Costus vinosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion throughout its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while collection pressure for ornamental use has further reduced wild populations. Urban expansion and infrastructure development continue to eliminate remaining forest patches where this endemic ginger survives.

Threat summary

Habitat

Costus vinosus is endemic to the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) of southeastern Brazil, where it grows in humid understory conditions of primary and secondary tropical rainforest. The species typically occurs at elevations between 200-800 meters in areas with high humidity and filtered sunlight beneath the forest canopy.

Forest· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies reintroductionEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in COSTACEAE

Costus geothyrsusCR

Costus geothyrsus

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CR

Costus barbatus

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VU

Costus muluensis

Stable
VU

Costus bullatus

Stable

Threatened in Panama

Curlew SandpiperVU

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

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Massive Starlet CoralCR

Massive Starlet Coral

Siderastrea siderea

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EN

Baird's Tapir

Tapirus bairdii

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Flame Rivulus

Cynodonichthys uroflammeus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Costus vinosus classified as Critically Endangered?
Costus vinosus 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 vinosus faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and agricultural conversion throughout its limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while collection pressure for ornamental use has further reduced wild populations. Urban expansion and infrastructure development continue to eliminate remaining forest patches where this endemic ginger survives.
Where does Costus vinosus live?
Costus vinosus occurs in Panama. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Costus vinosus?
The main threats to Costus vinosus are 5.3, 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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