CR

Lithops hermetica

Declining

Overview

Lithops hermetica is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. It was assessed by Lyndley Craven.

Lithops hermetica 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 fragments the already limited range of this highly localized species. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance these living stones require for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Lithops hermetica inhabits arid quartzite and sandstone outcrops in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, growing in shallow soil pockets between rocks where it mimics the surrounding stone substrate. The species occurs in extremely localized populations within the winter rainfall region, requiring specific soil chemistry and drainage conditions found only in these specialized microhabitats.

Other threatened species in AIZOACEAE

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Juttadinteria simpsonii

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Lithops hermetica classified as Critically Endangered?
Lithops hermetica 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. Lithops hermetica 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 fragments the already limited range of this highly localized species. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance these living stones require for survival.
Where does Lithops hermetica live?
Lithops hermetica 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 hermetica?
The main threats to Lithops hermetica 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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