Ilex sintenisii
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ilex sintenisii faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited Puerto Rican range. Urban development and infrastructure projects continue to fragment the remaining montane forest patches where this endemic holly survives. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, moist conditions essential for this high-elevation species.
Habitat
This endemic Puerto Rican holly inhabits montane rainforests and cloud forests at elevations between 600-1,200 meters. It thrives in the cool, humid conditions of upper elevation forests with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight beneath the forest canopy.