Dioscorea namorokensis
CR

Dioscorea namorokensis

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Dioscorea namorokensis faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat degradation in Madagascar's remaining forest fragments. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while collection pressure for traditional medicinal uses compounds population decline. Climate change poses additional risks to its specialized forest microhabitat requirements.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic yam species inhabits the humid lowland and mid-elevation forests of Madagascar, typically growing as a climbing vine in the understory of primary and secondary forest areas. It requires the specific microclimate conditions found in Madagascar's eastern rainforest belt.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in DIOSCOREACEAE

CR

Dioscorea tabatae

Declining
VU

Dioscorea kituiensis

Unknown
VU

Dioscorea mundii

Declining
EN

Dioscorea irodensis

Declining

Threatened in Madagascar

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Montipora calcarea

Declining
CR

Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat

Hypogeomys antimena

Declining
Nasolo's Shrew TenrecVU

Nasolo's Shrew Tenrec

Microgale nasoloi

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dioscorea namorokensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Dioscorea namorokensis 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. Dioscorea namorokensis faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat degradation in Madagascar's remaining forest fragments. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while collection pressure for traditional medicinal uses compounds population decline. Climate change poses additional risks to its specialized forest microhabitat requirements.
Where does Dioscorea namorokensis live?
Dioscorea namorokensis occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dioscorea namorokensis?
The main threats to Dioscorea namorokensis are 2.1, 5.3, 5.4, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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