CR

Metalepis haughtii

Declining

Overview

Cynanchum haughtii is a species of plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Metalepis haughtii faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Colombian cloud forests. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical montane forest habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and moisture conditions beyond the species' narrow altitudinal range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits humid montane cloud forests in the Colombian Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters. It requires intact forest canopy with high humidity levels and specific temperature ranges characteristic of cloud forest ecosystems.

Forest· majorMarine coastal/supratidal· major

Other threatened species in APOCYNACEAE

EN

Aspidosperma salgadense

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Rauvolfia steyermarkii

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VU

Ceropegia rhynchantha

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Ceropegia loranthiflora

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Metalepis haughtii classified as Critically Endangered?
Metalepis haughtii is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Metalepis haughtii faces severe threats from deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its limited range in Colombian cloud forests. Mining activities and agricultural expansion have destroyed critical montane forest habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and moisture conditions beyond the species' narrow altitudinal range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction.
Where does Metalepis haughtii live?
Metalepis haughtii 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 Metalepis haughtii?
The main threats to Metalepis haughtii are 5.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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