VU

Cylindropuntia santamaria

Unknown

Overview

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

Cylindropuntia santamaria faces severe pressure from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its desert scrub environment. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate water balance this cactus requires for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic cactus inhabits arid desert scrublands and rocky slopes in the southern Baja California peninsula. It typically grows in well-drained soils among other desert vegetation, requiring specific microclimatic conditions found only in its narrow geographic range.

Marine coastal/supratidal· majorShrubland· majorDesert· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLegislation

Other threatened species in CACTACEAE

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Opuntia megarrhiza

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Cylindropuntia santamaria classified as Vulnerable?
Cylindropuntia santamaria 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. Cylindropuntia santamaria faces severe pressure from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its desert scrub environment. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate water balance this cactus requires for survival.
Where does Cylindropuntia santamaria live?
Cylindropuntia santamaria 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 Cylindropuntia santamaria?
The main threats to Cylindropuntia santamaria 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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