CR

Peniocereus occidentalis

Unknown

Overview

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

Peniocereus occidentalis faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in northwestern Mexico. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while illegal collection for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate desert ecosystem balance this cactus depends upon.

Threat summary

Habitat

This rare cactus inhabits arid desert scrublands and rocky slopes in the Sonoran Desert region of northwestern Mexico. It typically grows in well-drained soils among desert shrubs and requires specific microhabitat conditions with partial shade and protection from extreme temperatures.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical dry· major

Other threatened species in CACTACEAE

EN

Turbinicarpus horripilus

Declining
CR

Turbinicarpus mandragora

Declining
EN

Opuntia pachyrrhiza

Declining
EN

Opuntia megarrhiza

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Peniocereus occidentalis classified as Critically Endangered?
Peniocereus occidentalis 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. Peniocereus occidentalis faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from urban development and agricultural expansion across its limited range in northwestern Mexico. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while illegal collection for the horticultural trade has further reduced wild populations. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the delicate desert ecosystem balance this cactus depends upon.
Where does Peniocereus occidentalis live?
Peniocereus occidentalis 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 Peniocereus occidentalis?
The main threats to Peniocereus occidentalis are 2.3, 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.