Taxonomy

endemique
protegee
UICN

Red List Status -

Near Threatened (NT) , assessed in 20/11/2020

Protected species -

in Northern Province

Acianthus tenellus is a geophytic orchid, endemic of New Caledonia distributed across Grande Terre. A. tenellus occurs in dense humid forest and at an altitude range of 200 and 1,175 m asl. This species does not seem threatened but some subpopulations may be impacted by invasive species (feral pigs, Sus scrofa and Rusa deer, Rusa timorensis), which contribute to the decline of the habitat quality. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) being estimated to be 48 and 6,443 km², respectively, and it is known from a small number of locations. Therefore Acianthus tenellus is considered Near Threatened (NT) close to VU B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii) with an estimated decline of quality of habitat quality and a number of locations.

Geographical area


Acianthus tenellus is endemic to New Caledonia and it has a discattered distribution across the Grande Terre.

Population


Population size is unknown.

Habitat


A. tenellus is an geophytic orchid. It occurs in dense humid forest at an altitude range of 200 and 1,175 m asl.

Threats


A. tenellus does not seem threatened but some subpopulations may be impacted by invasive species (feral pigs, Sus scrofa and Rusa deer, Rusa timorensis), which contribute to the decline of the habitat quality.

Conservation


Acianthus tenellus is protected by legislation in New Caledonia and it does occur in four protected areas: Bois du Sud, Côte Oubliée, Nodela, Parc des Grandes Fougères.

Bibliography


Jones, D.L., Clements, M.A., Sharma, I.K., Mackenzie, A.M. & Molloy, B.P.J. 2002. Nomenclatural notes arising from studies into the tribe Diurideae (Orchidaceae). The Orchadian(13) , p.437-468.

Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 08 : Orchidaceae.

Kores, P. 1995. A systematic study of the genus « Acianthus » (Orchidaceae : Diurideae) . Allertonia(7(3)) , p.87-220.

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Experts


Assessor(s): Bruy, D., Butin, J., Dumontet, V., Fleurot, D., Héquet, V., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Cazé, H.

Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Meyer, S.


Geographical distribution