KINGTON, UNITED KINGDOM - 18th SEPTEMBER 2020 - Close-up of silhouette outline of monkey puzzle tree / Araucaria araucana, Hergest Ridge, Kington, Herefordshire, England / Wales border, Welsh Marches, United Kingdom

1351090544

KINGTON, UNITED KINGDOM - 18th SEPTEMBER 2020 - Close-up of silhouette outline of monkey puzzle tree / Araucaria araucana, Hergest Ridge, Kington, Herefordshire, England / Wales border, Welsh Marches, United Kingdom

Photo by: Chris Griffiths

Chris Griffiths

The Ancient Monkey Puzzle Tree Outlasted Dinosaurs. Now It's Facing Extinction.

The monkey puzzle tree is a remnant of the Jurassic era, more than 145 million years ago, surviving way past its ancient dinosaur counterparts. Reaching heights of about 160 feet, the evergreen tree has a lifespan of up to 700 years and stiff scaly branches with rigid spiral leaves. Monkey puzzle trees’ presence in the wild is shrinking and after million years, their very existence is now endangered.

August 18, 2022

Monkey puzzle trees or araucaria araucana, are only known to grow in Chile and Argentina, along the slopes of Patagonia’s volcanos. Due to increased human habitat encroachment, fires, and overgrazing, the forest habitat for the monkey puzzle tree grows has rapidly shrunk.

The extinction of this ancient tree poses a threat to the austral parakeet, which rely on its large seeds as a food source. Monkey puzzle pine nuts are vital to the flocks of green-hued parrots and studies show that both the tree and the parakeets benefit from this symbiotic relationship.

Araucaria trees (Araucaria araucana) and the Llaima Volcano (3125 m) in the background, Conguillio National Park, Araucania, Chile.

959519618

Araucaria trees (Araucaria araucana) and the Llaima Volcano (3125 m) in the background, Conguillio National Park, Araucania, Chile.

Photo by: DEA / V. GIANNELLA

DEA / V. GIANNELLA

Scientists have found that the austral parakeet helps enhance the germination speed of the seeds by consuming them away from the original tree and leaving their partially eaten “leftovers” on the forest floor. The parakeets' vital dispersal helps new trees regenerate further away from the mother plant.

close-up of Enicognathus ferrugineus, the Austral Parakeet, Austral Conure or Emerald Parakeet can be found allover Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, sitting on a tree in Glaciers national park close to the perito moreno glacier_1

1364994298

close-up of Enicognathus ferrugineus, the Austral Parakeet, Austral Conure or Emerald Parakeet can be found allover Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, sitting on a tree in Glaciers national park close to the perito moreno glacier_1

Photo by: Jens Otte

Jens Otte

In addition to the parakeets, the monkey puzzle pine nuts are a traditional food source for the Indigenous Mapuche people. Using skillful climbing, the Mapuche people climb the trees to gather pine nuts. The monkey puzzle pine nuts are then pounded into that is utilized in bread recipes. Although the Mapuche people have the right to collect pine nuts in their ancestral areas, the local government restricts the quantity collected by the general public and requires a permit for commercial purposes.


Despite these regulations, illegal collection still occurs and the continued human seed collection threatens monkey puzzle tree populations. The Mapuche people have a history of protecting the monkey puzzle tree that is intertwined with their lifestyles. The Mapuche demanded legal protection for the tree that was facing extinction due to logging. Currently, the Mapuche people are working to replant and revitalize the monkey puzzle tree populations and hope that these ancient trees will one day thrive.

Next Up

Ancient Greenland Shark Found Thousands of Miles from Home, in Belize

The Greenland shark, one of the longest living animals on Earth, was surprisingly found in coral reefs off the coast of Belize. The Greenland shark most commonly lives in colder waters around Greenland and Iceland and can live to be over 500 years old.

Coral Reef Survival Relies on Gene Science and Lower Emissions

Coral reefs across the world are under threat as global warming raises sea temperatures and the oceans become more acidic from absorbing carbon dioxide. While nations work to reduce industrial greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, helping coral to adapt to changing conditions could provide welcome relief for affected reefs.

99% of Sea Turtles are Now Born Female. Here's Why.

Global warming is creating a crisis in sea turtles' gender ratios, where 99% of them are being born female. Sea turtle populations have been facing a significant population decline further exasperated by climate change.

Polar Researchers Discover World’s Largest Fish Breeding Colony

Scientists aboard the German research vessel Polarstern have found the world’s largest fish breeding ground containing around 60 million nests.

Why the Long Face? Extinct Headbutting Relatives Reveal Giraffes' Neck Evolution

Pioneered by Darwin, giraffes have been used as a classic example of how animals adapt and evolve. Giraffe’s long-neck evolution has long been attributed to foraging for sustenance in the high canopy, now researchers argue that selection for head-butting combat played a role in the long length of giraffe necks.

Is Climate Change Killing More Elephants than Poachers?

Kenya’s Wildlife and Tourism Board has announced that climate change is now a bigger threat to elephant populations than poaching. Kenya is currently facing an extreme drought that is threatening the livelihoods of people and wildlife within the area.

Two Orcas Are Hunting Great White Sharks in South Africa

A killer whale duo has been killing great white sharks off the Gansbaai coast, causing them to flee the area. These orcas have developed a taste for shark livers, transforming the local marine ecosystem.

The Oldest Complete Fish Fossil was Discovered Thanks to Kung Fu

Back in 2019, three Chinese paleontologists were playfighting during a break from working in the Chongqing Province, China. One was kung-fu kicked into a rocky outcrop, causing rubble to tumble down and exposing an opening in the rock face. Inside, a spectacular fossil lay undisturbed, preserved for millions of years.

Bald Eagles Made a Comeback But Now They’re Under Threat Again

The resurgence of bald eagles in American skies has been touted as one of the biggest conservation successes in the country – but now scientists say the birds are being poisoned by lead.

There is Hope for the Future of Polar Bears Threatened by Climate Change

Scientific researchers have recently identified a sub-population of polar bears in southeastern Greenland that survive by hunting on glacial slush. The discovery of their unique behaviors is helping scientists understand the future of this species whose habitats are threatened by climate change.

Related To: