CR

Thorectes coloni

Declining

Overview

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

Thorectes coloni faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion in its limited Mediterranean range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns affecting soil moisture levels critical for this dung beetle's survival. Collection pressure from entomologists targeting this rare endemic species further compounds population decline risks.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic dung beetle inhabits Mediterranean scrubland and oak woodland areas with specific soil conditions suitable for its subterranean lifestyle. The species requires areas with adequate dung deposits from grazing mammals and appropriate soil moisture levels for successful reproduction and larval development.

Rocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recovery

Other threatened species in GEOTRUPIDAE

EN

Ceratophyus martinezi

Declining
EN

Ceratophyus rossii

Declining
EN

Thorectes baraudi

Declining
VU

Thorectes valencianus

Declining

Threatened in Morocco

VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Declining
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown
Common Fire SalamanderVU

Common Fire Salamander

Salamandra salamandra

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Thorectes coloni classified as Critically Endangered?
Thorectes coloni 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. Thorectes coloni faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to urban development and agricultural expansion in its limited Mediterranean range. The species' extremely restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized disturbances, while climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns affecting soil moisture levels critical for this dung beetle's survival. Collection pressure from entomologists targeting this rare endemic species further compounds population decline risks.
Where does Thorectes coloni live?
Thorectes coloni occurs in Morocco. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Thorectes coloni?
The main threats to Thorectes coloni 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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