Agave tecta
CR

Agave tecta

Declining

Photo: (c) Carlos Jiménez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Carlos Jiménez

Overview

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

Agave tecta faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species is particularly vulnerable to collection pressure from succulent enthusiasts and commercial trade, which has significantly reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect this drought-adapted species' specialized ecological requirements.

Threat summary

Habitat

Agave tecta inhabits rocky limestone slopes and cliff faces in arid scrubland environments, typically at elevations between 1,000-2,000 meters. The species requires well-drained soils and is adapted to the specific microclimate conditions found in narrow canyon systems and exposed rocky outcrops.

Other threatened species in ASPARAGACEAE

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Chlorophytum herrmannii

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Asparagus radiatus

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Prospero talosii

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Beaucarnea gracilis

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Arachnothryx tacanensis

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Baird's Tapir

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Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

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Phrygiopilus acanthophallus

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Agave tecta classified as Critically Endangered?
Agave tecta 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. Agave tecta faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species is particularly vulnerable to collection pressure from succulent enthusiasts and commercial trade, which has significantly reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect this drought-adapted species' specialized ecological requirements.
Where does Agave tecta live?
Agave tecta occurs in Guatemala. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Agave tecta?
The main threats to Agave tecta are 1.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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