Monnina loxensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Monnina loxensis faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in Ecuador's Andean regions, which directly destroys its specialized montane habitat. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining populations, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones upslope beyond the species' adaptive capacity.
Habitat
This species inhabits montane cloud forests and páramo ecosystems in the Ecuadorian Andes, typically occurring at elevations between 2,800-3,500 meters. It grows in humid, moss-rich environments with consistent cloud cover and specialized soil conditions characteristic of high-altitude tropical montane systems.