CR

Scaevola tahitensis

Declining

Overview

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

Scaevola tahitensis faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited range in French Polynesia. Invasive plant species outcompete this endemic shrub for resources and space in its coastal habitat. Climate change-induced sea level rise and increased storm intensity threaten the low-lying coastal areas where remaining populations persist.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic shrub inhabits coastal areas and low-lying shoreline environments in French Polynesia, typically growing in sandy soils and rocky coastal substrates. It occurs in exposed coastal vegetation communities where it must tolerate salt spray and periodic storm disturbance.

Other threatened species in GOODENIACEAE

CR

Scaevola hobdyi

Unknown
VU

Scaevola chanii

Stable
VU

Scaevola verticillata

Stable
VU

Scaevola procera

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Scaevola tahitensis classified as Critically Endangered?
Scaevola tahitensis 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. Scaevola tahitensis faces severe population decline due to habitat destruction from coastal development and tourism infrastructure expansion across its limited range in French Polynesia. Invasive plant species outcompete this endemic shrub for resources and space in its coastal habitat. Climate change-induced sea level rise and increased storm intensity threaten the low-lying coastal areas where remaining populations persist.
Where does Scaevola tahitensis live?
Scaevola tahitensis 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 Scaevola tahitensis?
The main threats to Scaevola tahitensis 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.

Get weekly conservation intelligence

One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.

Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.