Lithops werneri: The tiny Namibian plant that survives by disguising itself as a pebble. Fewer than 200 now remain in the wild
The Lithops werneri, a rare Namibian succulent that mimics pebbles, has been declared critically endangered with fewer than 200 plants remaining in the wild. The species faces threats from illegal horticultural collection and climate change, compounded by its extremely limited natural habitat.
Why it matters
The decline of this unique species highlights the fragility of specialized ecosystems and the impact of human activity on biodiversity.
In a small patch of Namibia's Erongo Mountains, a tiny succulent grows so convincingly disguised as a pebble that most people would walk straight past it without a second glance. This plant, Lithops werneri, survives by mimicking the grey, weathered stones scattered across the thin gravel where it grows, a camouflage strategy that has helped protect it from grazing animals for millions of years but has done little to shield it from human collectors and a changing climate.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in