CRCritically Endangered

Mammillaria marcosii

Declining

Overview

Mammillaria multihamata is a species of flowering plant in the family Cactaceae. It is a succulent cactus subshrub endemic to northeastern Mexico, where it ranges from Guanajuato to San Luis Potosí. Its natural habitat is submontane semi-desert matorral (shrubland), where it grows in steeply sloping volcanic rocky terrain at about 1200 meters elevation.

Mammillaria marcosii faces severe threats from illegal collection for the international cactus trade, driven by its rarity and distinctive appearance. The species' extremely restricted range makes it vulnerable to habitat degradation from livestock grazing and agricultural expansion in the Mexican highlands. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance this desert cactus requires for survival.
Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered cactus inhabits rocky limestone slopes and crevices in the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico, typically growing at elevations between 1,200-1,800 meters. It requires well-drained calcareous soils and benefits from the protection of nurse plants and rock formations that provide shade and moisture retention.

Rocky areas· majorDesert· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in CACTACEAE

Threatened in Mexico

Arachnothryx tacanensis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Mammillaria marcosii classified as Critically Endangered?

Mammillaria marcosii 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. Mammillaria marcosii faces severe threats from illegal collection for the international cactus trade, driven by its rarity and distinctive appearance. The species' extremely restricted range makes it vulnerable to habitat degradation from livestock grazing and agricultural expansion in the Mexican highlands. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance this desert cactus requires for survival.

Where does Mammillaria marcosii live?

Mammillaria marcosii occurs in Mexico. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to Mammillaria marcosii?

The main threats to Mammillaria marcosii 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.