CR

Gasteranthus extinctus

Unknown

Overview

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

Gasteranthus extinctus faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in its restricted Ecuadorian cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion and cattle ranching have eliminated much of its specialized epiphytic habitat, while climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where this species can survive. The extremely limited population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits montane cloud forests of Ecuador, growing as an epiphyte on moss-covered trees and rocks in humid, mist-shrouded environments. It requires the specific microclimate conditions found in these high-altitude tropical forests, typically between 1,500-2,500 meters elevation.

Other threatened species in GESNERIACEAE

EN

Streptocarpus brachynema

Declining
EN

Streptocarpus erubescens

Declining
VU

Pearcea cordata

Unknown
EN

Streptocarpus burundianus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Gasteranthus extinctus classified as Critically Endangered?
Gasteranthus extinctus 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. Gasteranthus extinctus faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation in its restricted Ecuadorian cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion and cattle ranching have eliminated much of its specialized epiphytic habitat, while climate change threatens to shift the narrow altitudinal zones where this species can survive. The extremely limited population size makes it vulnerable to stochastic events and genetic bottlenecks.
Where does Gasteranthus extinctus live?
Gasteranthus extinctus 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 Gasteranthus extinctus?
The main threats to Gasteranthus extinctus 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.