West Indian Nipple-cactus
Mammillaria prolifera
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammillaria_prolifera
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Genus
Mammillaria
West Indian Nipple-cactus belongs to the family Cactaceae, order Caryophyllales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The West Indian Nipple-cactus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to coastal development, tourism infrastructure, and urban expansion across its limited Caribbean range. Climate change poses additional risks through sea level rise and increased hurricane intensity, while invasive plant species compete for the specialized rocky coastal habitats this cactus requires.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Rocky coastal areas, limestone cliffs, and dry scrublands near sea level throughout the Caribbean islands. The species typically grows in well-drained, alkaline soils on exposed rocky substrates and coastal terraces.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The West Indian Nipple-cactus faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to coastal development, tourism infrastructure, and urban expansion across its limited Caribbean range. Climate change poses additional risks through sea level rise and increased hurricane intensity, while invasive plant species compete for the specialized rocky coastal habitats this cactus requires.
Coastal development and tourism infrastructure
Sea level rise from climate change
Urban expansion and habitat fragmentation
Hurricane damage and extreme weather events
Invasive plant species competition
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). West Indian Nipple-cactus (Mammillaria prolifera). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/west-indian-nipple-cactus