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Tephrocactus bonnieae

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
PLANTAE TRACHEOPHYTA MAGNOLIOPSIDA CARYOPHYLLALES CACTACEAE

Scientific Name: Tephrocactus bonnieae
Species Authority: (D.J.Ferguson & R.Kiesling) Stuppy
Taxonomic Notes: Without doubt a 'good' species. However, originally described in the genus Puna, a recent study (Stuppy 2001) has shown that the taxon undoubtedly belongs to the genus Tephrocactus (not Opuntia as indicated in the CITES Checklist).

Basionym: Puna bonnieae D.J. Ferguson & R. Kiesling, Cact. Succ. J. (US) 69: 290 (1997). Type: Argentina, Catamarca, Dept. Tinogasta, near Loro Huasi, November 20, 1994, R. Kiesling 8710 (SI, holotype).

Synonyms = Maihueniopsis bonnieae (D. J. Ferguson & R. Kiesling) E.F. Anderson, Cact. Succ. J. (US) 71(6): 325 (1999); Opuntia bonnieae (Ferguson & Kiesling) Halda & Janeba, Cactaceae etc. 9 (4): 160. 1999.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Endangered D ver 3.1
Year Published: 2002
Annotations:
Needs updating
Assessor/s: Stuppy, W. & Kiesling, R.
Reviewer/s: Stuppy, W. & Taylor, N.P. (Cacti & Succulent Plant Red List Authority)
Contributor/s:
Justification:
This attractive cactus is only known from the vicinity of the type locality and is almost certainly threatened by illegal collecting. During a visit to the type locality in 1994 (four years after the discovery of the species) Roberto Kiesling, Omar Ferrari and Silvio Meglioli found about 30 individuals. Later, Kiesling found two more individuals in another locality close by (R. Kiesling pers. comm.). Considering that the plants are buried underground for most of the year, one can only give a rough estimate of the actual population size. Adopting a precautionary approach as recommended by IUCN, the population size is hereby estimated to number fewer than 250 mature individuals.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: Without doubt a 'good' species. However, this was originally described in the genus Puna, a recent study (Stuppy 2001) has shown that the taxon undoubtedly belongs to the genus Tephrocactus. The extent of occurrence is about 20 km². The range may extend to the tops of the hills or even higher up the mountains south of the present location. But this needs verification.
Countries:
Native:
Argentina
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend: Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Occurs in semi-desert scrub.
Systems: Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): Threatened by illegal collecting. However, the type locality is no longer on the main route (a new road was made and the old one abandoned), and the other places where Kiesling found T. bonnieae again are unknown to others. It is also difficult to find the plants because of their geophytic habit.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: Listed on CITES App. II. However, the laws governing international trade in this species need to be enforced in the countries of destination.
Citation: Stuppy, W. & Kiesling, R. 2002. Tephrocactus bonnieae. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2013.
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