VU

Tocoyena pittieri

Unknown

Overview

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

Tocoyena pittieri faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching throughout its limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. Deforestation for coffee plantations and pastureland has fragmented its habitat into isolated patches, reducing population connectivity and genetic diversity. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this cloud forest specialist to retreat to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This endemic Costa Rican shrub inhabits montane cloud forests and wet premontane forests at elevations between 1,200-2,000 meters. It thrives in the humid, mist-shrouded environments of the Cordillera de Talamanca, requiring consistent moisture and cool temperatures typical of tropical montane ecosystems.

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Psychotria tahitensis

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Scolosanthus acunae

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Tocoyena pittieri classified as Vulnerable?
Tocoyena pittieri 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. Tocoyena pittieri faces severe pressure from agricultural expansion and cattle ranching throughout its limited range in Costa Rica's montane forests. Deforestation for coffee plantations and pastureland has fragmented its habitat into isolated patches, reducing population connectivity and genetic diversity. Climate change poses an additional threat as rising temperatures force this cloud forest specialist to retreat to higher elevations with increasingly limited suitable habitat.
Where does Tocoyena pittieri live?
Tocoyena pittieri 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 Tocoyena pittieri?
The main threats to Tocoyena pittieri 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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