VU

Dracula benedicti

Unknown

Overview

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

Dracula benedicti faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion in Ecuador's cloud forests, where its epiphytic lifestyle makes it entirely dependent on mature forest canopy structure. Mining activities and agricultural expansion in the Cordillera del Cóndor region have fragmented its already limited range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this orchid's survival in high-altitude cloud forest environments.

Threat summary

Habitat

Dracula benedicti is endemic to the cloud forests of Ecuador's Cordillera del Cóndor, growing as an epiphyte on moss-covered tree branches at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters. It requires the constant high humidity and cool temperatures characteristic of these montane cloud forest ecosystems.

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

CR

Benthamia nigrovaginata

Unknown
Dark-red HelleborineCR

Dark-red Helleborine

Epipactis atrorubens

Unknown
CR

Broughtonia cubensis

Unknown
CR

Huntleya apiculata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dracula benedicti classified as Vulnerable?
Dracula benedicti 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. Dracula benedicti faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion in Ecuador's cloud forests, where its epiphytic lifestyle makes it entirely dependent on mature forest canopy structure. Mining activities and agricultural expansion in the Cordillera del Cóndor region have fragmented its already limited range. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for this orchid's survival in high-altitude cloud forest environments.
Where does Dracula benedicti live?
Dracula benedicti 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 Dracula benedicti?
The main threats to Dracula benedicti 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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