CR

Euspondylus monsfumus

Declining

Overview

Euspondylus monsfumus is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae. It is endemic to Venezuela.

Euspondylus monsfumus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining cloud forest fragments where this lizard occurs. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human disturbances.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits cloud forests and montane humid environments at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters in the Andes. It requires dense vegetation cover and specific microclimate conditions found in these high-altitude tropical ecosystems.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recoveryCompliance and enforcement

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Euspondylus monsfumus classified as Critically Endangered?
Euspondylus monsfumus 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. Euspondylus monsfumus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion and urban development in its restricted montane range. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the remaining cloud forest fragments where this lizard occurs. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized environmental changes and human disturbances.
Where does Euspondylus monsfumus live?
Euspondylus monsfumus occurs in Venezuela. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Euspondylus monsfumus?
The main threats to Euspondylus monsfumus are 1.1, 2.1, 4.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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