Inga maritima
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Inga maritima faces severe pressure from coastal development and tourism infrastructure along Brazil's Atlantic coast, where beachfront construction directly destroys its specialized sandy coastal habitat. The species is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise and increased storm intensity, which erode the narrow coastal zones where it naturally occurs. Agricultural expansion and urban sprawl further fragment remaining populations, while the species' limited dispersal ability prevents natural recolonization of disturbed areas.
Habitat
Inga maritima is endemic to sandy coastal plains and restinga vegetation along Brazil's Atlantic coast, typically growing in well-drained sandy soils within 5 kilometers of the ocean. The species thrives in the transition zones between coastal dunes and inland forest fragments, where it forms part of the specialized restinga ecosystem.