European yellowrattle
CR

European yellowrattle

Rhinanthus alectorolophus

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhinanthus_alectorolophus

Overview

Rhinanthus alectorolophus, the European yellow-rattle, is a plant species of the genus Rhinanthus, native to Europe.

Greater yellow-rattle faces severe decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss of traditional hay meadows and semi-natural grasslands. The species depends on specific grassland management practices that have largely disappeared with modern farming methods, leading to fragmentation of suitable habitat across its European range.

Threat summary

Habitat

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is European yellowrattle classified as Critically Endangered?
European yellowrattle 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. Greater yellow-rattle faces severe decline primarily due to agricultural intensification and habitat loss of traditional hay meadows and semi-natural grasslands. The species depends on specific grassland management practices that have largely disappeared with modern farming methods, leading to fragmentation of suitable habitat across its European range.
Where does European yellowrattle live?
European yellowrattle 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 European yellowrattle?
The main threats to European yellowrattle 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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