Moss Fern
Hecistopteris pumila
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Pteridaceae
Genus
Hecistopteris
Moss Fern belongs to the family Pteridaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Moss Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation of its specialized tropical forest environments. Its extremely limited distribution and specific microhabitat requirements make populations highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbance. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the humid conditions essential for this species' survival.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Moss Fern occurs in humid tropical forests, typically growing as an epiphyte on tree trunks and rocks in shaded, moisture-rich microenvironments. The species requires consistently high humidity and is found in both lowland and montane forest ecosystems where it forms part of the bryophyte and small fern communities.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Moss Fern faces severe threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation of its specialized tropical forest environments. Its extremely limited distribution and specific microhabitat requirements make populations highly vulnerable to environmental changes and human disturbance. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the humid conditions essential for this species' survival.
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Habitat destruction and deforestation
Habitat fragmentation
Limited population size and restricted range
Human disturbance and development pressure
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Moss Fern (Hecistopteris pumila). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/moss-fern