Cyrtochilum ioplocon
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Cyrtochilum ioplocon faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as Andean cloud forests are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' restricted range in high-altitude ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat zones upward beyond available mountain peaks. Mining activities and infrastructure development in the Andes further fragment the remaining forest patches where this orchid survives.
Habitat
This orchid species inhabits cloud forests and montane forests of the Andes, typically growing as an epiphyte on moss-covered trees in humid, high-altitude environments between 2,000-3,500 meters elevation. It requires the consistent moisture and cool temperatures characteristic of these specialized Andean ecosystems.