EN

Masdevallia foetens

Unknown

Overview

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

Masdevallia foetens faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native range are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with entire populations at risk from single disturbance events. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude orchid's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This epiphytic orchid inhabits cool, humid cloud forests at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters in the Andean mountains. It grows on moss-covered tree branches and trunks in areas with consistent moisture and filtered sunlight typical of montane forest ecosystems.

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

CR

Benthamia nigrovaginata

Unknown
Dark-red HelleborineCR

Dark-red Helleborine

Epipactis atrorubens

Unknown
CR

Broughtonia cubensis

Unknown
CR

Huntleya apiculata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Masdevallia foetens classified as Endangered?
Masdevallia foetens is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Masdevallia foetens faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native range are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, with entire populations at risk from single disturbance events. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude orchid's survival.
Where does Masdevallia foetens live?
Masdevallia foetens 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 Masdevallia foetens?
The main threats to Masdevallia foetens 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.