CR

Paepalanthus retusus

Unknown

Overview

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

Paepalanthus retusus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities and urban expansion in its restricted range within the Brazilian Cerrado. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, with quarrying operations and infrastructure development fragmenting its specialized rocky outcrop habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance required for this endemic plant's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

Paepalanthus retusus is endemic to rocky outcrops and quartzite formations in the Cerrado savanna of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The species requires specific microhabitat conditions found on exposed rock surfaces with thin soil layers and seasonal moisture availability.

Other threatened species in Eriocaulaceae

CR

Paepalanthus seslerioides

Unknown
CR

Syngonanthus androsaceus

Unknown
Eriocaulon melanocephalumCR

Eriocaulon melanocephalum

Unknown
CR

Paepalanthus nipensis

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Paepalanthus retusus classified as Critically Endangered?
Paepalanthus retusus 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. Paepalanthus retusus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to mining activities and urban expansion in its restricted range within the Brazilian Cerrado. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, with quarrying operations and infrastructure development fragmenting its specialized rocky outcrop habitats. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate moisture balance required for this endemic plant's survival.
Where does Paepalanthus retusus live?
Paepalanthus retusus 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 Paepalanthus retusus?
The main threats to Paepalanthus retusus 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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