Description:

A small relatively stout species of gecko growing to a body length of 43mm. It has moderately broad toes. The colour pattern on the body is highly variable ranging from mid to dark brown above with a broad median region of paler greyish brown to almost uniformly coloured with a barely discernable lighter dorsal region.

Natural distribution:

Known only from Mt Koniambo in the northwest ranges.

Distribution within Province Nord: see above.

Habitat:

High elevation closed forest, and mid elevation maquis shrubland.

Threats:

• moderate to high but localised level of threat to high elevation humid forest and gully forests through activities associated with mining.

• moderate to high level of threat to remnant high elevation closed forest habitat through repeated firing of adjacent maquis habitat, leading to loss and degradation of the forest edge.

• moderate to high level of threat to remnant high elevation closed forest habitat from grazing by deer and disturbance by pigs.

• moderate to high level of threat to mid elevation maquis shrubland from fire.

• moderate to high level of threat from predation by introduced rats, particularly if the species only persists in remnant patches of shrubland and forest in an already highly disturbed landscape.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered

Dierogekko koniambo has an extremely restricted distribution (<100km2). The summit area of Mt Koniambo has been heavily impacted by mining activity. The species is already under threat from existing and proposed mining activity on the mountain which could result in a further decline in the area, extent and/or quality of the small areas of Montane closed forest habitat, furthermore this habitat is highly susceptible to catastrophic impact of wildfires. Maquis shrubland is also highly susceptible to the impact of repeated firing which results in a simplification of this habitat. As such the species has been identified as highly threatened and to meet the criteria to be categorised as Critically Endangered (Bauer et al., 2006).

*Species occurring in localised areas of maquis shrubland are highly susceptible to catastrophic impact of wildfires, and require pro-active conservation management to deal with this potential threat.