Taxonomy
Common name :
Le Bavayia de montagne
Montane Bavayia Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 11/12/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
Description
Description:
Bavayia montana as it is currently known (Bauer & Sadlier, 2000) is a composite of closely related and morphologically similar species of gecko that reach a body length of approximately 76mm and tail length about 100% that of the body; have moderately broad toes; and a body colour that is russet-brown with a pattern of numerous scattered pale flecks and 4-5 dark, pale spotted, darker transverse bars across the body, and are yellow below.
Natural Distribution:
Research in progress indicates Bavayia montana as it is currently recognised comprises a number of morphologically and genetically distinct species distributed across the central, northern, and ultramafic ranges of the west coast of New Caledonia, mainly in mid to high elevation humid forest habitat.
Distribution within Province Sud:
Populations currently assigned to this species occur at Sarraméa and Col d’Amieu in the central ranges.
Distribution within Province Nord:
Populations currently assigned to this species occur from the central ranges at Mé Adéo near Bourail north to Mt Mandjélia in the northeast ranges, and Mt Kopéto and Mt Taom on the northwest coast.
Habitat:
Humid forest on the chaine central, including high elevation Araucaria forest.
Threats:
-
potentially high level of threat to populations in humid forest from high infestation levels of introduced The Little Red Fire Ant (Wasmannia auropunctata), resulting in a significant decline in abundance.
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moderate to high but localised level of threat to isolated high elevation humid forest and gully forests on ultramafics through loss or degradation of habitat from activities associated with mining.
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potentially high level of threat to populations in humid forest habitat on ultramafic soils through repeated firing of adjacent maquis habitat, leading to loss and degradation of the forest edge.
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localised moderate to high level of threat to populations in mid elevation humid forest through loss and modification of forest habitat to timber plantations and logging (Mt Aoupinié and Forêt Plate).
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low level of threat to populations in low elevation humid forest on the east coast through loss, modification and fragmentation of forest habitat to local agriculture.
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low level of threat to populations in humid forest habitat through repeated firing of adjacent savannah habitat, leading to loss and degradation of the forest edge.
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potentially high level of threat from exotic pests such as rats and cats (predation of adults, young & eggs) in heavily affected forests, particularly in forests of small size such as isolated high elevation patches.
Conservation Status:
Data Deficient
Bavayia montana comprises a complex of species that requires substantial research is to clarify the taxonomy of the populations involved, for this reason it is inappropriate to formally assess the species conservation status.
Bavayia montana is listed as Endangered because it is know from two locations with an extent of occurrence estimated at 440 km2 and an area of occupancy at 36 km2. A continuing decline is estimated for its area of occupancy, extent and quality of habitat and in the number of mature individuals due to a variety of threats.
Geographical area
Bavayia montana is endemic to Province Nord, New Caledonia. It occurs from the Panié massif in the north-east (northernmost locality is Mt Ignambi) to Ouazangou-Taom massif, in the north-west. It occurs at elevations between 80 m and 900 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 440 km2 and the area of occupancy at 36 km2.
Population
There are no quantitative data on population size or trends for Bavayia montana but it is expected there have been reductions in population size and extent from past habitat loss and degradation resulting from clearance for agriculture, logging and afforestation (low to mid-elevation), mining (high elevation) and from wildfires. B. montana appears to be relatively common at some localities with good habitat.
Habitat
Bavayia montana inhabits closed humid forest at low to mid-elevation and montane forest. It is nocturnal, arboreal and it shelters during the day in tree holes and crevices, beneath loose bark and crevice in rock banks and outcrops. It forages at night on trunks and branches.
Threats
The greatest threats to Bavayia montana are the habitat loss and degradation due to the expansion of the nickel mining industry across most of the ultramafic massifs and predation pressure from rodents. Other threats are the habitat degradation by introduced deer and the spread of the invasive ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, through low to mid-elevation forests which is a major concern and is expected to have a serious impact on populations (Jourdan et al. 2000, 2001).
Conservation
Bavayia montana is protected in Province Nord under Code de l'environnement de la Province Nord (Délibération No. 306-2008/APN, 24 October 2008) and in Province Sud under Code de l'environnement de la Province Sud (Délibération No. 25-2009/APS, 20 March 2009). This species is present in Réserve de Nature Sauvage du Mont Panié but no active specific conservation management is currently being undertaken.
Bibliography
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Uetz, P. (ed.) 2017. The Reptile Database.
IUCN 2021. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-2.
Bauer, A.M. and Sadlier, R.A. 2000. The Herpetofauna of New Caledonia.
Jourdan, H., Brescia, F. and Vidal, E. 2014. Programme R_Mines.Impact des espèces invasives sur les communautés de reptiles des massifs miniers.
Jourdan, H., Sadlier, R.A. and Bauer, A.M. 2000. Premières observations sur les conséquences de l’invasion de Wasmannia auropunctata 1863 (Roger) sur les prédateurs supérieurs dans les écosystèmes Néo-calédoniens. Actes des collectes insectes sociaux(13) , p.121-126.
Jourdan, H., Sadlier, R.A. and Bauer, A.M. 2001. Little Fire Ant Invasion (Wasmannia auropunctata) as a threat to New Caledonian lizards: Evidences from a sclerophyll forest (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology(38) , p.283-301.
L'Huillier L.; Jaffré T. and Wulff A. 2010. Mines et Environnement en Nouvelle-Calédonie : les milieux sur substrats ultramafiques et leur restauration.
Experts
Assessor(s): Sadlier, R., Bauer, A., Jourdan, H., Astrongatt, S., Deuss, M., Duval, T., Bourguet, E., McCoy, S., Bouteiller, A., Lagrange, A.
Reviewer(s): Cox, N.
Contributor(s): Whitaker, A.
Facilitator(s): Warimavute, G., Tanguy, V., Lietar, J.