Spiny Restharrow
VU

Spiny Restharrow

Ononis spinosa

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

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

Spiny Restharrow faces severe decline due to agricultural intensification and the widespread conversion of traditional grazing lands to intensive farming systems. Coastal populations are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss from urban development and tourism infrastructure along Mediterranean shorelines. The species' specialized pollination requirements and slow colonization rate make recovery from local extinctions extremely difficult, compounding the impacts of habitat fragmentation.

Threat summary

Habitat

Spiny Restharrow inhabits dry grasslands, coastal dunes, limestone pavements, and traditional grazing areas across Mediterranean and Atlantic coastal regions. The species thrives in nutrient-poor, well-drained soils and requires moderate disturbance from grazing to maintain open habitat conditions.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Spiny Restharrow classified as Vulnerable?
Spiny Restharrow is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Spiny Restharrow faces severe decline due to agricultural intensification and the widespread conversion of traditional grazing lands to intensive farming systems. Coastal populations are particularly vulnerable to habitat loss from urban development and tourism infrastructure along Mediterranean shorelines. The species' specialized pollination requirements and slow colonization rate make recovery from local extinctions extremely difficult, compounding the impacts of habitat fragmentation.
Where does Spiny Restharrow live?
Spiny Restharrow 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 Spiny Restharrow?
The main threats to Spiny Restharrow 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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