Encephalartos cupidus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

View Printer Friendly

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
PLANTAE	TRACHEOPHYTA	CYCADOPSIDA	CYCADALES	ZAMIACEAE

Scientific Name:

Encephalartos cupidus

Species Authority:

R.A.Dyer

Common Name/s:

English

–

Blyde River Cycad

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered A2acd; B1ab(ii,iii,iv,v)+2ab(ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

Donaldson, J.S.

Reviewer/s:

Agenbag, L. & Bösenberg, J.D.

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Originally occurred in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga province of South Africa, but recent surveys (2004) show that it is extinct in Limpopo and now only survives in the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga. There has been an 80-85% population reduction in the last three generations, the remaining population has a very small extent of occurrence (58 km²) and area of occupancy (9 km²), the population is severely fragmented and there is continuing decline due to the impacts of collectors.

History:

2003	–	Critically Endangered (IUCN 2003)
2003	–	Critically Endangered
1997	–	Endangered (Walter and Gillett 1998)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is confined to the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Recorded to occur from 700 up to 1,500 m asl.
Countries:	Native: South Africa (Limpopo Province - Regionally Extinct, Mpumalanga)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The species has been extirpated in two localities and the remaining population size is estimated to number 300-500 mature individuals. The population is severely fragmented.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	E. cupidus grows in open grassy situations on steep to precipitous rocky slopes or cliffs. Plants are also sometimes found along seepage areas bordering gallery forest as well as in dry forest.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species has suffered greatly as a result of over-collecting for ornamental purposes. Due to the few number of plants in the wild, reproductive failure is quite possible in the future. Droughts and fires also cause high mortality amongst the seedlings.

Major Threat(s):

This species has suffered greatly as a result of over-collecting for ornamental purposes. Due to the few number of plants in the wild, reproductive failure is quite possible in the future. Droughts and fires also cause high mortality amongst the seedlings.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Most of the remaining plants are found within the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve.

Conservation Actions:

This species is listed on Appendix I of the CITES Appendices. Most of the remaining plants are found within the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve.

Citation:	Donaldson, J.S. 2010. Encephalartos cupidus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2013.
Disclaimer:	To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
Feedback:	If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please fill in the feedback form so that we can correct or extend the information provided