Dypsis ambositrae

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	LILIOPSIDA	ARECALES	PALMAE

Scientific Name:	Dypsis ambositrae
Species Authority:	Beentje

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Critically Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Published:

2012

Assessor/s:

Rakotoarinivo, M. & Dransfield, J.

Reviewer/s:

Baker, W.J. & Beentje, H.J.

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Dypsis ambositrae has a quite large distribution range (the extent of occurrence is 1,790 km²) but it is considered to be Critically Endangered because of its low population density in each of the three known sites (only 40 mature individuals in total). None of these locations is protected while the size of the populations, especially those located along the main road, are declining seriously.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Endemic to the central Haut Plateau, around Ambositra in Madagascar. The species is currently known from three locations: Ilaka Afovoany, Amboditsirakena (Ambalamanakana) and Itremo mountains. Occurs from 1,500 up to 1,700 m.
Countries:	Native: Madagascar
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The size of the population varies greatly between the known sites of occurrence. The population in the two sites along the National Road 7 (Ilaka Afovoany and Amboditsirakena) is estimated to be less than ten individuals and the mature trees of this species in Itremo are about 30, giving thus a total of approximately 40 mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Grows in open mountain forest. Habitat seems to be related, topographically, to rocky areas and to weather characterized by a nearly permanent cloud cover and the frequency of drizzle and fog during the winter season.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	The distribution range is in the area where human density is high in Madagascar. Consequently, the habitat is constantly threatened by wood exploitation or by expanding agriculture. The seeds of this species are collected for horticultural use.

Major Threat(s):

The distribution range is in the area where human density is high in Madagascar. Consequently, the habitat is constantly threatened by wood exploitation or by expanding agriculture. The seeds of this species are collected for horticultural use.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	At present, none of the known occurrence sites are protected. The status of Itremo as a new protected area is still uncertain.

Conservation Actions:

At present, none of the known occurrence sites are protected. The status of Itremo as a new protected area is still uncertain.

Citation:	Rakotoarinivo, M. & Dransfield, J. 2012. Dypsis ambositrae. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 May 2013.
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