Masdevallia leontoglossa
EN

Masdevallia leontoglossa

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masdevallia_civilis

Overview

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

Masdevallia leontoglossa faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native range are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while illegal collection for the international orchid trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude orchid's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

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

Other threatened species in Orchidaceae

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Epipactis atrorubens

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Broughtonia cubensis

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Huntleya apiculata

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Masdevallia leontoglossa classified as Endangered?
Masdevallia leontoglossa 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 leontoglossa faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests in its native range are cleared for agriculture and urban development. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while illegal collection for the international orchid trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the cool, humid conditions essential for this high-altitude orchid's survival.
Where does Masdevallia leontoglossa live?
Masdevallia leontoglossa 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 leontoglossa?
The main threats to Masdevallia leontoglossa 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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