Parathesis aurantiaca
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Parathesis aurantiaca faces significant pressure from habitat destruction as montane cloud forests are cleared for agriculture and urban development across its limited range in Central America. The species' specialized requirements for humid, high-elevation environments make it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat zones to higher elevations. Fragmentation of remaining forest patches isolates populations and reduces genetic diversity, while invasive plant species alter the understory composition that this shrub depends upon.
Habitat
Parathesis aurantiaca inhabits montane cloud forests and humid highland areas between 1,500-2,500 meters elevation in Central America. The species requires consistently moist conditions and grows in the understory of primary and secondary forests with persistent cloud cover.
