Range-restricted

Range-restricted describes a species, population, or geographic feature that has a limited distribution or occurrence. This means it exists only in a relatively small area or specific habitat. Factors contributing to range restriction can include specific environmental requirements, habitat fragmentation, competition, or historical events. The term highlights vulnerability due to limited resilience to environmental changes or threats, emphasizing the importance of conservation efforts.

Range-restricted meaning with examples

• The Amur leopard is a critically endangered species, designated range-restricted due to its few remaining individuals and very small geographic area in the Russian Far East and northeastern China. Conservation efforts are critically needed to support the species. Further fragmentation of their habitat could be catastrophic.
• Several endemic plant species on the isolated island of Madagascar are classified as range-restricted, requiring specialized soil and climate conditions. Their narrow distribution makes them especially susceptible to habitat loss from deforestation and climate change. Protecting their environment is critical.
• The pygmy marmoset, a small primate found exclusively in a specific region of the Amazon rainforest, is considered range-restricted. Deforestation and habitat destruction from agriculture threaten these primate populations which make the pygmy marmoset vulnerable to extinction.
• In paleontology, a newly discovered fossil of a specific dinosaur species found only in a particular rock formation is said to be range-restricted to that region. This finding assists in understanding their ecosystem during the dinosaur period and in their potential decline.