Meriania costata
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Meriania costata faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its limited Andean range. The species' restriction to cloud forest ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, as these specialized environments are increasingly converted to cattle pasture and crop cultivation. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the moisture regimes essential for cloud forest persistence, potentially forcing populations to higher elevations where suitable habitat becomes increasingly scarce.
Habitat
Meriania costata is endemic to cloud forests of the tropical Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,500-2,500 meters where persistent fog and high humidity create ideal conditions for epiphytic growth. The species thrives in the understory and forest edges of these montane ecosystems, which are characterized by dense vegetation and year-round moisture.