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Lithops francisci

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Lithops francisci faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international succulent trade, with entire populations being harvested from their natural habitat. Habitat degradation from overgrazing by livestock and infrastructure development further threatens the remaining fragmented populations. Climate change poses an additional risk through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the species' highly specialized water-dependent lifecycle.

Threat summary

Habitat

Lithops francisci inhabits arid quartz fields and rocky outcrops in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, where it grows embedded in quartzite gravel and receives minimal annual rainfall. The species requires very specific soil conditions with excellent drainage and camouflages perfectly among the surrounding quartzite pebbles.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Lithops francisci classified as Endangered?
Lithops francisci is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Lithops francisci faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international succulent trade, with entire populations being harvested from their natural habitat. Habitat degradation from overgrazing by livestock and infrastructure development further threatens the remaining fragmented populations. Climate change poses an additional risk through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the species' highly specialized water-dependent lifecycle.
Where does Lithops francisci live?
Lithops francisci occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Lithops francisci?
The main threats to Lithops francisci are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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