Mountain Sipo
VU

Mountain Sipo

Chironius monticola

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironius_monticola

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Mountain Sipo faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its montane forest range in South America. Mining activities and infrastructure development in mountainous regions have fragmented its habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and humidity conditions upslope beyond available habitat. The species' specialized requirements for cloud forest environments make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and microclimate alterations.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Mountain Sipo inhabits cloud forests and montane rainforests at elevations between 1,000-2,500 meters in the Andes and associated mountain ranges. It requires humid, cool environments with dense canopy cover and abundant epiphytic vegetation typical of neotropical cloud forest ecosystems.

Other threatened species in Colubridae

Mcnamara's Burrowing SnakeVU

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Philippine Keel-bellied Whip SnakeVU

Philippine Keel-bellied Whip Snake

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VU

Negros Spotted Water Snake

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EN

Mountain Burrowing Snake

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Mountain Sipo classified as Vulnerable?
Mountain Sipo is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Mountain Sipo faces severe pressure from deforestation and agricultural expansion throughout its montane forest range in South America. Mining activities and infrastructure development in mountainous regions have fragmented its habitat, while climate change threatens to shift suitable temperature and humidity conditions upslope beyond available habitat. The species' specialized requirements for cloud forest environments make it particularly vulnerable to habitat degradation and microclimate alterations.
Where does Mountain Sipo live?
Mountain Sipo 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 Mountain Sipo?
The main threats to Mountain Sipo are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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