Cactus  (Ariocarpus trigonus)

Members of the genus Ariocarpus are known as 'living rock' or 'fossil cacti' due to their unusual appearance (5), and they have been widely in demand from collectors for this reason (2). The demand for this species for the commercial cactus trade is a significant threat to its survival together with the development of the land for agriculture. Large areas of land have been converted for citrus plants or irrigated for cereal crops, and non-developed areas are often occupied by goats, which graze and trample on this species (2).

Ariocarpus trigonus is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which bans international trade in this unusual cactus based on wild plants (4). The Valley of Jaumave is home to many unusual and rare species of plants and animals and it has been suggested as an excellent candidate for a nature reserve (2).