CR

Piper mexiae

Unknown

Overview

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

Piper mexiae faces severe threats from deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited Colombian range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks to its montane forest ecosystem. Mining activities and infrastructure development further threaten the remaining populations of this critically endangered pepper plant.

Threat summary

Habitat

Piper mexiae inhabits humid montane forests and cloud forest edges in the Colombian Andes, typically growing as an understory shrub in areas with high moisture and filtered sunlight. The species is adapted to specific elevation ranges and microclimatic conditions found in these threatened Andean ecosystems.

Other threatened species in PIPERACEAE

CR

Piper subtomentosum

Declining
CR

Piper manabinum

Unknown
VU

Piper pittieri

Unknown
CR

Piper wibomii

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Piper mexiae classified as Critically Endangered?
Piper mexiae 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. Piper mexiae faces severe threats from deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited Colombian range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation, while climate change poses additional risks to its montane forest ecosystem. Mining activities and infrastructure development further threaten the remaining populations of this critically endangered pepper plant.
Where does Piper mexiae live?
Piper mexiae 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 Piper mexiae?
The main threats to Piper mexiae 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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