Gasteranthus otongensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Gasteranthus otongensis faces severe pressure from deforestation and habitat conversion in Ecuador's cloud forest regions. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have fragmented its already limited range, while climate change threatens to shift the specific moisture and temperature conditions this epiphytic species requires. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction.
Habitat
This epiphytic plant inhabits the humid cloud forests of Ecuador's Andean slopes, typically growing on tree trunks and branches in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight. It occurs at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in montane forest ecosystems.
