Plantain Marble, Downland Marble
EN

Plantain Marble, Downland Marble

Endothenia oblongana

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endothenia_oblongana

Overview

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

The Plantain Marble faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its chalk downland range. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded the quality of remaining grassland habitats, while the abandonment of traditional grazing management has led to scrubland encroachment that eliminates the open conditions this species requires. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the growth cycles of its host plants.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Plantain Marble inhabits chalk downlands and limestone grasslands, particularly areas with short, species-rich turf containing its host plants. It requires open, well-drained calcareous soils with scattered scrub and maintains populations in both grazed and ungrazed grassland patches.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Plantain Marble, Downland Marble classified as Endangered?
Plantain Marble, Downland Marble is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Plantain Marble faces severe decline due to habitat loss from agricultural intensification and urban development across its chalk downland range. Overgrazing by livestock has degraded the quality of remaining grassland habitats, while the abandonment of traditional grazing management has led to scrubland encroachment that eliminates the open conditions this species requires. Climate change poses an additional threat through altered precipitation patterns that affect the growth cycles of its host plants.
Where does Plantain Marble, Downland Marble live?
Plantain Marble, Downland Marble occurs in Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, and Czechia (plus 18 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Plantain Marble, Downland Marble?
The main threats to Plantain Marble, Downland Marble 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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