Zamia pygmaea

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	CYCADOPSIDA	CYCADALES	ZAMIACEAE

Scientific Name:	Zamia pygmaea
Species Authority:	Sims
Synonym/s:	Zamia chamberlainii J.Schust. Zamia kickxii Miq. Zamia ottonis Miq. Zamia silicea Britton

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered B2ab(ii,iii,v);C1 ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

Stevenson, D.W.

Reviewer/s:

Donaldson, J.S. & Bösenberg, J.D.

Justification:
Classified as Critically Endangered based on its limited distribution. It is regarded as severely fragmented due to the small overall population size spread across four subpopulations and evidence from other cycads that subpopulations of this size seldom reproduce effectively. Also qualifies under criterion C based on an estimated number of mature individuals of <250 and ongoing decline.

History:

2003	–	Data Deficient (IUCN 2003)
1997	–	Rare (Walter and Gillett 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is endemic to western Cuba and the Isla de la Juventud (previously Isla de Pinos.)
Countries:	Native: Cuba
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population data from western Cuba: 2 subpopulations Zamia pygmaea (187 individuals) and 2 populations of Zamia ottonis - synonym of Z. pygmaea (78 individuals). Depending on the accepted taxonomy, the species comprises either 2 subpopulations with a total of 187 plants or 4 subpopulations with a total of 265 individuals. These are total populations counts, so the number of mature individuals is estimated to be <250.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

Population data from western Cuba: 2 subpopulations Zamia pygmaea (187 individuals) and 2 populations of Zamia ottonis - synonym of Z. pygmaea (78 individuals). Depending on the accepted taxonomy, the species comprises either 2 subpopulations with a total of 187 plants or 4 subpopulations with a total of 265 individuals. These are total populations counts, so the number of mature individuals is estimated to be <250.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Plants of Z. pygmaea generally grow in open dry habitats. These vary from serpentine to limestone outcrops to almost pure sand. -Zamia pygmaea, along with Z. angustifolia, is one of the most xerophytic species in the genus. Plants occur in dry brush covered hills, pine forests and areas of white sand.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix II of the CITES Appendices. Plants occur in the San Ubaldo-Sabanalamar Ecological Reserve in the Pinar del Rio province and in the Los Indios Ecological Reserve on the Isla de la Juventud.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix II of the CITES Appendices. Plants occur in the San Ubaldo-Sabanalamar Ecological Reserve in the Pinar del Rio province and in the Los Indios Ecological Reserve on the Isla de la Juventud.

Citation:	Stevenson, D.W. 2010. Zamia pygmaea. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 May 2012.
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