Ruilopezia cardonae
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Ruilopezia cardonae faces significant pressure from climate change, as rising temperatures force this high-altitude specialist to retreat to increasingly limited summit areas in the Venezuelan Andes. Agricultural expansion and cattle grazing in surrounding lower elevations further fragment its already restricted páramo habitat. The species' extremely limited range, confined to a few mountain peaks above 3,000 meters, makes it particularly vulnerable to any environmental changes or human disturbances.
Habitat
This endemic plant species inhabits high-altitude páramo ecosystems in the Venezuelan Andes, typically found on rocky slopes and summit areas above 3,000 meters elevation. It grows in the specialized alpine vegetation characteristic of these tropical montane environments, where cool temperatures and high UV radiation create unique ecological conditions.