CR

Hipparchia sbordonii

DecliningNTEUNTEU

Overview

Hipparchia sbordonii, the Ponza grayling, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is an endemic species found only on the Pontine Islands of Italy.

Hipparchia sbordonii faces severe threats from habitat degradation and fragmentation within its extremely limited range in the Italian Alps. The species' specialized requirements for high-altitude grassland ecosystems make it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat to higher elevations with reduced available area. Tourism development and infrastructure expansion in alpine regions further compress the butterfly's already restricted habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This butterfly inhabits high-altitude alpine grasslands and meadows in the Italian Alps, typically found at elevations above 1,500 meters. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions including native grass species and appropriate moisture levels that support its larval development.

Shrubland· majorGrassland· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in NYMPHALIDAE

Amauris nossimaVU

Amauris nossima

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Idea electraVU

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Ideopsis hewitsonii

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Idea tambusisiana

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Threatened in Italy

VU

Lepiota echinella

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Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown
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Arum apulum

Declining
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Pipizella nigriana

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Hipparchia sbordonii classified as Critically Endangered?
Hipparchia sbordonii 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. Hipparchia sbordonii faces severe threats from habitat degradation and fragmentation within its extremely limited range in the Italian Alps. The species' specialized requirements for high-altitude grassland ecosystems make it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat to higher elevations with reduced available area. Tourism development and infrastructure expansion in alpine regions further compress the butterfly's already restricted habitat.
Where does Hipparchia sbordonii live?
Hipparchia sbordonii occurs in Italy. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Hipparchia sbordonii?
The main threats to Hipparchia sbordonii are 7.1, 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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