Fauna
Plant

Anubias barteri

Anubias barteri

Also known as Broadleaf Anubias, Barter's Anubias

Anubias barteri anchors itself tenaciously to submerged rocks and roots along fast-flowing, heavily shaded forest streams in West Africa. Its thick, leathery foliage and stout rhizome withstand torrential seasonal floods that alternate between complete submersion and semi-terrestrial dampness. The plant regularly produces distinctive arum-type spathes and spadices, relying on chemical defenses like insoluble oxalates to deter foraging herbivores.

AquaticPerennialShade Tolerant
Anubias barteri reference
(c) Carnat Joel, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotrophic; absorbs dissolved minerals and carbon dioxide
Predators
  • Aquatic snails
  • Herbivorous cichlids
  • Insect larvae
ThreatsDeforestation, siltation from agricultural runoff, and aquatic habitat degradation
HabitatsTropical rainforest streams, waterfalls, rocky riverbeds, and spray zones
Life spanPerennial (typically 5–15 years or more)
Classification
  1. OrderAlismatales
  2. FamilyAraceae
  3. GenusAnubias
  4. SpeciesAnubias barteri
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains insoluble calcium oxalates; toxic to dogs and cats if ingested.
Why it is dangerous
Plant tissues contain needle-like calcium oxalate raphides that mechanically puncture oral tissues, causing severe mouth pain, swelling, and drooling in pets.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for glossy, thick, arrow- or heart-shaped leaves extending from a tough, horizontal green rhizome in wet conditions.
What to do
Keep domestic pets from chewing the foliage, and rinse hands after pruning damaged stems or rhizomes.
Responsible observation
  • Substrate Placement: Fasten the creeping rhizome to rock or wood rather than burying it under silt, which causes rot.
  • Lighting Balance: Provide dim, diffused illumination to prevent colonizing algae from coating the slow-growing leaves.
Related species
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