Pentacalia almorzana
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Pentacalia almorzana faces severe habitat degradation from agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in Colombia's high-altitude páramo ecosystems. The species' extremely restricted range makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones upward beyond the species' elevational limits. Mining activities and infrastructure development pose additional pressures on the fragmented populations.
Habitat
This endemic Colombian species inhabits high-altitude páramo ecosystems, typically found in montane grasslands and shrublands between 3,000-4,000 meters elevation. It grows in the specialized alpine vegetation characteristic of the northern Andes, where cool temperatures and high humidity create unique ecological conditions.