CR

Pilea cataractae

Declining

Overview

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

Pilea cataractae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species' restriction to waterfall spray zones makes it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes from dam construction and water diversion projects. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the specific moisture conditions this species requires.

Threat summary

Habitat

Pilea cataractae is endemic to wet rocky surfaces in waterfall spray zones and moist cliff faces in tropical montane forests. The species requires constant moisture from waterfall mist and grows exclusively on moss-covered rocks in shaded, humid microhabitats.

Forest· majorForest - Subtropical/tropical moist lowland· major

Conservation measures underway

Species reintroduction

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Pilea cataractae classified as Critically Endangered?
Pilea cataractae 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. Pilea cataractae faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species' restriction to waterfall spray zones makes it particularly vulnerable to hydrological changes from dam construction and water diversion projects. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that could disrupt the specific moisture conditions this species requires.
Where does Pilea cataractae live?
Pilea cataractae occurs in Mauritius. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Pilea cataractae?
The main threats to Pilea cataractae 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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