Astrophytum asterias

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	MAGNOLIOPSIDA	CARYOPHYLLALES	CACTACEAE

Scientific Name:

Astrophytum asterias

Species Authority:

(Zucc.) Lem.

Common Name/s:

English

–

Sand Dollar Cactus, Star Cactus

Taxonomic Notes:

Accepted as a valid species by cactus specialists Anderson (2001) and Hunt (1999).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Vulnerable B2ab(v) ver 3.1
Year Published:	2002
Assessor/s:	Anderson, E.F., Fitz Maurice, W.A., Fitz Maurice, B., Hofer, A. & Hoock, A.
Reviewer/s:	Stuppy, W. & Taylor, N.P. (Cacti & Succulent Plant Red List Authority)
Justification: Qualifies due to its area of occupancy of less than 2,000 km², less than ten known subpopulations, small number of mature individuals (less than 5,000), and threat over its entire population. However, its extensive range with many suitable habitats, which has largely been unstudied, particularly in northern Mexico, suggests that estimates of population size are probably low. Future studies may well show this plant to be more abundant than presently believed.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Much of its original habitat has been destroyed by agriculture in Texas and in Tamaulipas. Once fairly widely distributed in south Texas, the species is now known from only one locality near Rio Grande City. Several localities are known in Mexico, both north and south of Ciudad Victoria. The species may also have occurred in the State of Nuevo León and is hence Regionally Extinct there (NatureServe 2002). The total population numbers more than 5,000 plants from known localities in both countries.
Countries:	Native: Mexico (Tamaulipas); United States (Texas)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Currently, this species is found in sparse, fairly open thorny shrubland (semi-desert). It is most often found growing in gravelly, sometimes saline or calcareous, clays or loams in the partial shade of other plants or rocks. The vegetation in these areas was originally a subtropical grassland or grassland/savanna, but fire suppression, overgrazing, and pasture improvement have converted it to thorny shrublands and stands of non-native pasture grass (NatureServe 2002). It is uncertain what habitat this species occupied in the original grassland ecosystem. Occurs below 500 m, with most records being below 200 m.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Currently, this species is found in sparse, fairly open thorny shrubland (semi-desert). It is most often found growing in gravelly, sometimes saline or calcareous, clays or loams in the partial shade of other plants or rocks. The vegetation in these areas was originally a subtropical grassland or grassland/savanna, but fire suppression, overgrazing, and pasture improvement have converted it to thorny shrublands and stands of non-native pasture grass (NatureServe 2002). It is uncertain what habitat this species occupied in the original grassland ecosystem. Occurs below 500 m, with most records being below 200 m.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The species continues to be threatened by cactus collectors (despite successful commercial propagation techniques) and by habitat alteration/destruction due to severe overgrazing, brush eradication, and conversion to cropland (NatureServe 2002).

Major Threat(s):

The species continues to be threatened by cactus collectors (despite successful commercial propagation techniques) and by habitat alteration/destruction due to severe overgrazing, brush eradication, and conversion to cropland (NatureServe 2002).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Listed on CITES App. I, but the laws governing imports in the countries of destination need to be enforced. This species is widely propagated. In the US the species is recorded from two National Wildlife Refuges - Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR and Sanata Ana NWR.

Conservation Actions:

Listed on CITES App. I, but the laws governing imports in the countries of destination need to be enforced. This species is widely propagated. In the US the species is recorded from two National Wildlife Refuges - Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR and Sanata Ana NWR.

Citation:	Anderson, E.F., Fitz Maurice, W.A., Fitz Maurice, B., Hofer, A. & Hoock, A. 2002. Astrophytum asterias. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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