Kenya Jewel
CR

Kenya Jewel

Platycypha amboniensis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycypha_amboniensis

Overview

Platycypha amboniensis is a species of damselfly in the family Chlorocyphidae. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Platycypha amboniensis faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. The species' dependence on pristine forest streams makes it extremely vulnerable to habitat degradation from logging, charcoal production, and conversion to farmland. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and stream flow regimes essential for this damselfly's aquatic larval development.

Threat summary

Habitat

This damselfly inhabits pristine forest streams and riparian zones within montane forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania. The species requires clean, fast-flowing water with dense canopy cover and minimal human disturbance for successful reproduction and larval development.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist montane· major

Conservation measures underway

Species managementSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in CHLOROCYPHIDAE

EN

Polychrome Jewel

Africocypha varicolor

Unknown
EN

Banded Jewel

Africocypha centripunctata

Unknown
EN

Rhinocypha hageni

Declining
EN

Rhinocypha orea

Unknown

Threatened in Kenya

VU

Panicum pinifolium

Unknown
VU

Aidia abeidii

Unknown
EN

Black-fronted Spurfowl

Pternistis atrifrons

Declining
VU

Zanthoxylum mildbraedii

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Kenya Jewel classified as Critically Endangered?
Kenya Jewel 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. Platycypha amboniensis faces severe threats from rapid deforestation and agricultural expansion across its limited range in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. The species' dependence on pristine forest streams makes it extremely vulnerable to habitat degradation from logging, charcoal production, and conversion to farmland. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and stream flow regimes essential for this damselfly's aquatic larval development.
Where does Kenya Jewel live?
Kenya Jewel occurs in Kenya. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Kenya Jewel?
The main threats to Kenya Jewel are 5.3, 7.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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