Lithops is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words λίθος 'stone' and ὄψ 'face', referring to the stone-like appearance of the plants. They avoid being eaten by blending in with surrounding rocks and are often known as pebble plants or living stones. Lithops is both the genus name and the common name. The formation of the name from the Ancient Greek -ops means that even a single plant is called a Lithops.
The conservation status of a group of organisms indicates whether the group still exists and how likely the group is to become extinct in the near future. Many factors are taken into account when assessing conservation status: not simply the number of individuals remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, and known threats. Various systems of conservation status are in use at international, multi-country, national and local levels, as well as for consumer use such as sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification. The two international systems are by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
An IUCN Red List Critically Endangered species is one that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. As of December 2023, of the 157,190 species currently on the IUCN Red List, 9,760 of those are listed as Critically Endangered, with 1,302 being possibly extinct and 67 possibly extinct in the wild.
The charming thicket rat is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is described as data deficient as Thamnomys schoutedeni. It is found in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.
The Kern Plateau salamander is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae, endemic to California, in Tulare and Inyo, and Kern Counties in the western United States.
The fulvous-headed brushfinch is a species of bird in the family Passerellidae.
The fulvous-headed tanager is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae. It is found in the Venezuelan Coastal Range and far northern Colombia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montane forests and heavily degraded former forest.
The Mount Cameroon forest shrew or arrogant shrew, is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae endemic to Cameroon. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
The greater forest shrew is a species of mammal in the family Soricidae found in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Nigeria. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
Lithops hermetica is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. It was assessed by Lyndley Craven.
Lithops optica is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae, endemic to Namibia.
Lithops ruschiorum is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitats are rocky areas and cold desert.
Lithops vallis-mariae is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Lithops werneri is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas.
Lyndley Alan Craven was a botanist who became the Principal Research Scientist of the Australian National Herbarium.
Lithops salicola is a species of perennial plant in the family Aizoaceae, often called living stones, because of its resemblance to round grey pebbles.
Lithops francisci, commonly known as one of the living stones or pebble plants, is in the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to the arid desert environments of Namibia. It is a succulent with a natural habitat in rocky areas. L. francisci was assessed by Nicholas Edward Brown in 1925. It is one of the Lithops plants and shares the characteristic bi-leaf head pattern separated by a deep fissure, the bottom of which houses and protects the stunted stem.
Lithops lesliei is a species of plant in the family Aizoaceae. The plant is collected for its medicinal properties, and has therefore become threatened.
Urotheca fulviceps is a species of snake in the family, Colubridae. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Cephalocereus fulviceps is a species of Cephalocereus from Mexico.
