CR

Yorkshire Feather-moss

Thamnobryum cataractarum

StableCREUCREU

Overview

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

Thamnobryum cataractarum faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to water pollution and altered hydrology in its specialized waterfall environments. Urban development and agricultural runoff have contaminated the pristine water sources this moss requires, while dam construction and water diversions have disrupted the natural flow patterns essential for its survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing drought frequency in its limited range.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered moss species is endemic to spray zones and wet rock faces of waterfalls and cascades, requiring constant moisture and specific water chemistry conditions. It typically grows on limestone or calcareous substrates in shaded gorges where water flow creates the humid microclimate essential for its survival.

Wetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionSpecies recovery

Other threatened species in NECKERACEAE

CR

Pinnatella limbata

Unknown
CR

Neckeropsis pocsii

Unknown
VU

Exsertotheca intermedia

Stable
EN

Homalia webbiana

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Yorkshire Feather-moss classified as Critically Endangered?
Yorkshire Feather-moss 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. Thamnobryum cataractarum faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to water pollution and altered hydrology in its specialized waterfall environments. Urban development and agricultural runoff have contaminated the pristine water sources this moss requires, while dam construction and water diversions have disrupted the natural flow patterns essential for its survival. Climate change compounds these pressures by altering precipitation patterns and increasing drought frequency in its limited range.
Where does Yorkshire Feather-moss live?
Yorkshire Feather-moss 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 Yorkshire Feather-moss?
The main threats to Yorkshire Feather-moss are 2.1, 7.2, 9.3, and 9.3.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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