Liolaemus curis
CR

Liolaemus curis

Declining

Photo: (c) Claudio Reyes-Olivares, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Claudio Reyes-Olivares

Overview

Liolaemus curis, Nuñez's tree iguana, is a species of lizard in the family Liolaemidae. It is endemic to Chile.

Liolaemus curis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural development in its extremely limited range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented the already restricted coastal habitat where this lizard occurs. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures that could affect the species' specialized microhabitat requirements.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered lizard inhabits coastal areas and adjacent inland regions of central Chile, typically found in sandy and rocky substrates with sparse vegetation. The species occupies a very restricted range in Mediterranean-climate zones characterized by dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Shrubland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservation

Other threatened species in LIOLAEMIDAE

EN

Dragon of Torres-Mura

Liolaemus torresi

Declining
VU

Ctenoblepharys adspersa

Unknown
EN

Liolaemus arambarensis

Declining
EN

Stolzmann's Pacific Iguana

Liolaemus stolzmanni

Declining

Threatened in Chile

VU

Juan Fernandez Petrel

Pterodroma externa

Stable
VU

Black Petrel

Procellaria parkinsoni

Stable
VU

Chimney Swift

Chaetura pelagica

Declining
VU

Pink-footed Shearwater

Ardenna creatopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Liolaemus curis classified as Critically Endangered?
Liolaemus curis 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. Liolaemus curis faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban expansion and agricultural development in its extremely limited range. Mining activities and infrastructure development have further fragmented the already restricted coastal habitat where this lizard occurs. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures that could affect the species' specialized microhabitat requirements.
Where does Liolaemus curis live?
Liolaemus curis occurs in Chile. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Liolaemus curis?
The main threats to Liolaemus curis are 3.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.