Moquilea tachirensis
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Moquilea tachirensis faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation in the Venezuelan Andes, where its extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to local extinctions. Agricultural expansion and infrastructure development continue to reduce the remaining cloud forest fragments that support this endemic species. The species' restricted distribution to high-elevation montane forests in Táchira state means that even small-scale habitat losses can have disproportionate impacts on the entire population.
Habitat
Moquilea tachirensis is endemic to cloud forests and montane humid forests in the Venezuelan Andes, specifically in Táchira state at elevations between 1,800-2,400 meters. These high-altitude ecosystems are characterized by persistent cloud cover, high humidity, and rich epiphytic vegetation that supports the species' specialized ecological requirements.