Mammillaria theresae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Mammillaria theresae faces severe threats from illegal collection for the international cactus trade, driven by its extremely limited distribution and high collector value. The species' tiny population is further threatened by habitat degradation from livestock grazing and infrastructure development in its restricted range in Durango, Mexico. Climate change poses an additional risk through altered precipitation patterns that could affect the delicate moisture balance this desert species requires.
Habitat
This critically endangered cactus is endemic to a single location in the Sierra de la Paila, Durango, Mexico, where it grows on limestone cliffs and rocky outcrops in desert scrubland. The species occupies an extremely restricted habitat characterized by well-drained calcareous soils and specific microclimatic conditions at elevations around 1,400 meters.