Matucana paucicostata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Matucana paucicostata faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as its rocky desert slopes are converted for agriculture and urban development in Peru's central Andes. Mining activities pose an additional threat, fragmenting the already limited populations across isolated mountain ridges. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, with some subpopulations consisting of fewer than 50 individuals.
Habitat
This cactus species inhabits steep rocky slopes and cliff faces in the dry montane regions of central Peru, typically growing between 2,000-3,500 meters elevation. It thrives in well-drained, mineral-rich soils among limestone and granite outcrops where few other plants can establish.
