CRCritically Endangered

False-fig

Trilepisium gymnandrum

Stable

Photo: Photo: (c) silhouetteco, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Overview

Trilepisium gymnandrum is a species of Trilepisium that is endemic to the Seychelles, where it is threatened by habitat loss. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Five mature individuals are known in two sub-populations in the mid to high elevation forests of Silhouette Island. The 18th century populations of the larger Mahé and Praslin islands have presumably been extirpated.

Trilepisium gymnandrum faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat conversion for agricultural expansion across its limited range in Southeast Asia. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction, while selective logging targets mature forest stands where this tree species typically occurs. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns essential for the species' reproductive cycles.
Threat summary

Habitat

Trilepisium gymnandrum inhabits primary and secondary tropical rainforests, typically occurring in lowland and hill forest ecosystems up to 800 meters elevation. The species shows preference for well-drained soils in mature forest stands with closed canopy cover.

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionEx-situ conservationPolicies and regulations

Other threatened species in MORACEAE

Threatened in Seychelles

Acropora mossambica

Declining

Imperturbatia violescens

Stable

Aldabra Fody

Foudia aldabrana

Increasing

Ariadna ustulata

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is False-fig classified as Critically Endangered?

False-fig 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. Trilepisium gymnandrum faces severe population decline primarily due to extensive deforestation and habitat conversion for agricultural expansion across its limited range in Southeast Asia. The species' restricted distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction, while selective logging targets mature forest stands where this tree species typically occurs. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns essential for the species' reproductive cycles.

Where does False-fig live?

False-fig occurs in Seychelles. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.

What are the main threats to False-fig?

The main threats to False-fig are 2.1, 5.3, 8.1, and ai-1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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