Crabwood
VU

Crabwood

Carapa guianensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapa_guianensis

Overview

Carapa guianensis is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae, also known by the common names andiroba or crabwood.

Crabwood faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Neotropical range, driven by agricultural expansion, logging operations, and urban development. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its slow growth rate and dependence on intact forest ecosystems, making population recovery difficult once local extinctions occur.

Threat summary

Habitat

Crabwood occurs in tropical rainforests, moist lowland forests, and gallery forests throughout the Amazon Basin and Guianas, typically in well-drained soils from sea level to approximately 800m elevation. The species is also found in secondary forests and forest edges, though it reaches highest densities in primary forest habitats.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Meliaceae

CR

Malleastrum mocquerysii

Unknown
CR

Aglaia gracilis

Unknown
CR

Aglaia densitricha

Unknown
CR

Dysoxylum peerisi

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Crabwood classified as Vulnerable?
Crabwood is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Crabwood faces significant pressure from widespread deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Neotropical range, driven by agricultural expansion, logging operations, and urban development. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its slow growth rate and dependence on intact forest ecosystems, making population recovery difficult once local extinctions occur.
Where does Crabwood live?
Crabwood 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 Crabwood?
The main threats to Crabwood 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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