Pigmy Skipper
Gegenes pumilio
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
42
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gegenes_pumilio
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Hesperiidae
Genus
Gegenes
Pigmy Skipper belongs to the family Hesperiidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Pigmy Skipper faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its Mediterranean range. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, affecting the grassland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Mediterranean dry grasslands, scrublands, and open rocky areas with sparse vegetation, typically found in coastal regions and hillsides up to 1000m elevation. The species requires areas with its host grasses and nectar sources in warm, sunny locations.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Pigmy Skipper faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its Mediterranean range. Climate change poses additional pressure through altered precipitation patterns and increased drought frequency, affecting the grassland ecosystems this species depends upon.
Climate change and drought
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Fire regime changes
Overgrazing by livestock
Found in 42 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Pigmy Skipper (Gegenes pumilio). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pigmy-skipper