CR

Puya hirtzii

Unknown

Overview

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

Puya hirtzii faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its restricted Andean range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion, while cattle and sheep grazing degrades the specialized high-altitude grassland ecosystems it requires. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes in its montane habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

Puya hirtzii inhabits high-altitude Andean grasslands and páramo ecosystems, typically found in montane regions between 3,000-4,000 meters elevation. The species requires well-drained soils in open grassland areas with specific moisture and temperature conditions characteristic of tropical alpine environments.

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EN

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CR

Puya ramonii

Unknown

Threatened in Ecuador

VU

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VU

Copper Shark

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EN

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Puya hirtzii classified as Critically Endangered?
Puya hirtzii 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. Puya hirtzii faces severe threats from agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in its restricted Andean range. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to habitat conversion, while cattle and sheep grazing degrades the specialized high-altitude grassland ecosystems it requires. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering precipitation patterns and temperature regimes in its montane habitat.
Where does Puya hirtzii live?
Puya hirtzii occurs in Ecuador. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Puya hirtzii?
The main threats to Puya hirtzii are 7.1, ai-1, ai-2, and ai-3. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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