Psychotria scitula
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Psychotria scitula faces severe threats from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation within its extremely limited range in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce the remaining forest patches where this endemic coffee family species persists. The species' narrow ecological requirements and small population size make it highly vulnerable to any further habitat loss or degradation.
Habitat
This endemic Brazilian species inhabits the understory of Atlantic Forest remnants, typically found in humid montane forests with rich, well-drained soils. It requires the specific microclimate conditions provided by intact forest canopy cover and is associated with the highly biodiverse but critically threatened Atlantic Forest biome.
