CR

Dioscorea decaryana

Unknown

Overview

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

Dioscorea decaryana faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from slash-and-burn agriculture and expanding human settlements across Madagascar's eastern rainforests. The species is further threatened by overcollection of its edible tubers by local communities, combined with its naturally slow reproductive rate and limited dispersal ability. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the humid forest conditions this endemic yam requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Malagasy yam inhabits the humid lowland and montane rainforests of eastern Madagascar, typically growing as a climbing vine in the understory of primary and secondary forest areas. It requires consistently moist soil conditions and partial shade provided by the forest canopy.

Forest· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Ex-situ conservation

Other threatened species in DIOSCOREACEAE

CR

Dioscorea tabatae

Declining
VU

Dioscorea kituiensis

Unknown
VU

Dioscorea mundii

Declining
EN

Dioscorea irodensis

Declining

Threatened in Madagascar

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
EN

Montipora calcarea

Declining
CR

Malagasy Giant Jumping Rat

Hypogeomys antimena

Declining
Nasolo's Shrew TenrecVU

Nasolo's Shrew Tenrec

Microgale nasoloi

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Dioscorea decaryana classified as Critically Endangered?
Dioscorea decaryana 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. Dioscorea decaryana faces severe population decline primarily due to habitat destruction from slash-and-burn agriculture and expanding human settlements across Madagascar's eastern rainforests. The species is further threatened by overcollection of its edible tubers by local communities, combined with its naturally slow reproductive rate and limited dispersal ability. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns affecting the humid forest conditions this endemic yam requires.
Where does Dioscorea decaryana live?
Dioscorea decaryana occurs in Madagascar. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Dioscorea decaryana?
The main threats to Dioscorea decaryana are 5.3, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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