Fauna
Plant

Cecropia longipes

Cecropia longipes

Cecropia longipes is an umbrella-shaped pioneer tree specializing in rapid colonization of forest light gaps and river margins across the wet Chocó-Darién biogeographic corridor. Its hollow stems and specialized gland-bearing leaf bases often provide nesting chambers and nutrient-rich food bodies for symbiotic Azteca ants, which vigorously defend the foliage against encroaching vines and herbivorous insects. The tree's sprawling, deeply lobed leaves sit atop exceptionally elongated stalks, creating an airy canopy that shelters foraging rainforest fauna.

RainforestPioneer TreeCanopy
Cecropia longipes reference1 / 4
(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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VulnerableConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXVulnerableRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • Brown-throated sloth
  • Hoffmann's two-toed sloth
  • Spectacled parrotlet
ThreatsDeforestation, agricultural clearing, and infrastructure expansion in the Darién gap
HabitatsLowland tropical wet rainforests, riverbanks, and canopy gaps
Life span30–60 years
Classification
  1. FamilyUrticaceae
  2. SpeciesCecropia longipes
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Recognizable by its pale trunk, high layered tiers, and very long leaf petioles holding broad peltate leaves in Chocó-Darién lowlands.
Support conservation
Observe from established trails or waterways to prevent soil erosion and fragile understory trampling.
Responsible observation
  • Observing: Use binoculars to scan the high canopy for foraging sloths and frugivorous birds.
  • Identification: Look for prominent peltate leaves held on exceptionally long, slender stalks.
  • Precautions: Avoid jostling trunks, as resident colonies of Azteca ants can aggressively swarm.
Related species
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