Purple Emperor
CR

Purple Emperor

Apatura iris

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

The Purple Emperor faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of mature deciduous woodlands. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, while pollution and human disturbance in remaining forest fragments continue to degrade habitat quality.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mature deciduous and mixed woodlands with abundant sallow trees (Salix species), particularly goat willow, in woodland clearings, rides, and edges. Requires large forest areas with a mosaic of canopy cover and open spaces, typically in lowland regions with established tree populations.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Purple Emperor classified as Critically Endangered?
Purple Emperor 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. The Purple Emperor faces severe population declines across its range due to widespread habitat loss and fragmentation of mature deciduous woodlands. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, while pollution and human disturbance in remaining forest fragments continue to degrade habitat quality.
Where does Purple Emperor live?
Purple Emperor 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 Purple Emperor?
The main threats to Purple Emperor 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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