CR

Juania australis

Declining

Overview

Juania australis, the Chonta palm, is a species of flowering plant in the family Arecaceae, the only species in the genus Juania. It is a solitary trunked palm tree which is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands archipelago in the southeast Pacific Ocean west of Chile.

Juania australis faces severe threats from invasive species, particularly feral goats and rabbits that destroy its native habitat through overgrazing and trampling. The species' extremely restricted range on Robinson Crusoe Island makes it highly vulnerable to habitat degradation, while introduced plant species compete directly with native vegetation that the palm depends upon. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting this island endemic.

Threat summary

Habitat

Juania australis is endemic to Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández archipelago, where it inhabits native temperate rainforest and cloud forest environments at elevations between 400-600 meters. The species grows in moist, sheltered valleys and slopes with rich volcanic soils, often associated with endemic tree ferns and other native vegetation.

Forest· majorMarine neritic· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Juania australis classified as Critically Endangered?
Juania australis 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. Juania australis faces severe threats from invasive species, particularly feral goats and rabbits that destroy its native habitat through overgrazing and trampling. The species' extremely restricted range on Robinson Crusoe Island makes it highly vulnerable to habitat degradation, while introduced plant species compete directly with native vegetation that the palm depends upon. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased storm intensity affecting this island endemic.
Where does Juania australis live?
Juania australis occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Juania australis?
The main threats to Juania australis are 2.3, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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