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Masdevallia hieroglyphica

Unknown

Overview

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

Masdevallia hieroglyphica faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its limited Andean range are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes entire populations vulnerable to localized deforestation events. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the narrow temperature and humidity ranges required by this epiphytic orchid, potentially forcing populations upslope beyond suitable habitat zones.

Threat summary

Habitat

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

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

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Benthamia nigrovaginata

Unknown
Dark-red HelleborineCR

Dark-red Helleborine

Epipactis atrorubens

Unknown
CR

Broughtonia cubensis

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CR

Huntleya apiculata

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Masdevallia hieroglyphica classified as Endangered?
Masdevallia hieroglyphica 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 hieroglyphica faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its limited Andean range are cleared for agriculture and cattle ranching. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes entire populations vulnerable to localized deforestation events. Climate change poses an additional threat by shifting the narrow temperature and humidity ranges required by this epiphytic orchid, potentially forcing populations upslope beyond suitable habitat zones.
Where does Masdevallia hieroglyphica live?
Masdevallia hieroglyphica 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 hieroglyphica?
The main threats to Masdevallia hieroglyphica 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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