EN

Sapphoa ekmanii

Stable

Overview

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

Sapphoa ekmanii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests are cleared for agriculture and human settlement across its limited range in the Dominican Republic. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forest ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining forest patches essential for this endemic hummingbird's survival.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic hummingbird inhabits montane cloud forests and humid pine forests at elevations between 1,200-2,200 meters in the Cordillera Central of the Dominican Republic. It requires dense forest canopy with abundant epiphytes and flowering plants that provide both nectar sources and nesting sites in these mist-shrouded mountain ecosystems.

Other threatened species in ACANTHACEAE

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Justicia orbicularis

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EN

Isoglossa congesta

Unknown
Brachystephanus kupeensisCR

Brachystephanus kupeensis

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Whitfieldia preussii

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Threatened in Cuba

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Oriente Yellow-mottled FrogVU

Oriente Yellow-mottled Frog

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EN

Aristolochia clementis

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VU

Bauhinia dipetala

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Sapphoa ekmanii classified as Endangered?
Sapphoa ekmanii 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. Sapphoa ekmanii faces severe pressure from habitat destruction as cloud forests are cleared for agriculture and human settlement across its limited range in the Dominican Republic. The species' restriction to high-elevation cloud forest ecosystems makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as warming temperatures force suitable habitat upslope with nowhere left to retreat. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment the remaining forest patches essential for this endemic hummingbird's survival.
Where does Sapphoa ekmanii live?
Sapphoa ekmanii occurs in Cuba. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Sapphoa ekmanii?
The main threats to Sapphoa ekmanii 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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