CR

Lithops werneri

Declining

Overview

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

Lithops werneri faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international succulent trade, with entire populations being harvested from their natural habitat. Mining activities and infrastructure development in Namibia's mineral-rich regions directly destroy the specialized quartz gravel substrates where these living stones occur. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate moisture balance these drought-adapted plants require for survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Lithops werneri inhabits extremely arid quartz gravel plains and rocky outcrops in the Namib Desert of southwestern Namibia. These living stones grow embedded in specialized mineral substrates that provide both camouflage and the precise drainage conditions essential for their survival in one of Earth's most extreme desert environments.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Lithops werneri classified as Critically Endangered?
Lithops werneri 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 werneri faces severe pressure from illegal collection for the international succulent trade, with entire populations being harvested from their natural habitat. Mining activities and infrastructure development in Namibia's mineral-rich regions directly destroy the specialized quartz gravel substrates where these living stones occur. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the delicate moisture balance these drought-adapted plants require for survival.
Where does Lithops werneri live?
Lithops werneri 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 werneri?
The main threats to Lithops werneri 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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