Harpalyce baracoensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Harpalyce baracoensis faces significant pressure from habitat degradation in its restricted Cuban range, particularly from agricultural expansion and urban development around the Baracoa region. The species' limited distribution makes it especially vulnerable to localized disturbances, while invasive plant species compete for resources in its native dry forest habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the delicate moisture balance required by this endemic shrub.
Habitat
This endemic Cuban shrub inhabits dry forests and scrublands in the Baracoa region of eastern Cuba, typically growing on limestone substrates and rocky outcrops. It occurs in areas with well-drained soils and seasonal moisture patterns characteristic of the Caribbean dry forest ecosystem.
