CRCritically Endangered

Lurking Leskea

Plagiothecium latebricola

Plagiothecium latebricola is a species of moss belonging to the family Plagiotheciaceae.

01Classification

Taxonomy & Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Bryophyta

Class

Bryopsida

Order

Hypnales

Family

Plagiotheciaceae

Genus

Plagiothecium

Lurking Leskea belongs to the family Plagiotheciaceae, order Hypnales, within the Bryopsida class.

02Description

Species Profile

Plagiothecium latebricola is a species of moss belonging to the family Plagiotheciaceae.

Lurking Leskea (Plagiothecium latebricola) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized cave and rock crevice environments. The species faces severe threats from quarrying activities, recreational caving, and climate change impacts that alter the delicate moisture conditions required for this bryophyte's survival.

Key Facts

IUCN StatusCritically Endangered (CR)
GroupPlants
04Threats

Threats

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IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

Lurking Leskea (Plagiothecium latebricola) is critically endangered primarily due to habitat destruction and degradation of its specialized cave and rock crevice environments. The species faces severe threats from quarrying activities, recreational caving, and climate change impacts that alter the delicate moisture conditions required for this bryophyte's survival.

Climate change altering moisture regimes

HighOngoing

Quarrying and mining activities

HighOngoing

Recreational disturbance from caving

HighOngoing

Air pollution and acid deposition

MediumOngoing

Habitat fragmentation

MediumOngoing
07National Status

National vs Global Threat Status

How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).

CountryNational StatusGlobal StatusComparison
EULCLeast ConcernCRCritically EndangeredLower local risk
EULCLeast ConcernCRCritically EndangeredLower local risk

National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.

Community

Community Sightings

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07Sources

Sources & Attribution

How to Cite

IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS

GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org

National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org

This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Lurking Leskea (Plagiothecium latebricola). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/lurking-leskea

Full citation guide & data usage terms