Taxonomy
Caledoniscincus renevieri
Common name :
Le scinque de litière de Renevier
Renevier's Litter Skink Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 11/12/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern Province
This species is listed as Endangered because it has a restricted distribution, it is known from only three locations and the known subpopulations are small and isolated. Although extensive survey work along the central ranges has so far failed to detect the species elsewhere, it is possible that other populations exist.
Geographical area
This species is endemic to Province Nord, New Caledonia. It is known only from central Grande Terre at three locations along the main dividing range, Mt Aoupinié, Grottes de Adio and Col des Roussettes. It occurs at elevations between 200 and 500 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 336 km2 and the area of occupancy is estimated at 28 km2.
Population
There are no quantitative data on population size and trends for this species. It has presumably undergone a reduction in population size and extent in the past from habitat loss and degradation resulting mostly from clearance for agriculture and logging, and from wildfires. These impacts are continuing. Caledoniscincus renevieri is still relatively abundant at sites where good habitat remains.
Habitat
This species occurs in closed lowland and mid-elevation forests. It is diurnal, terrestrial and is active in sunlight. It shelters in litter, and basks and forages in sunlit-patches.
Threats
This species is threatened by further habitat loss and fragmentation from forest clearance, logging and wildfires. Additional threats include habitat degradation from livestock and introduced ungulates (deer and pigs) which damage the litter layer, predation by introduced mammals such as rodents and cats (Thibault 2017, Palmas 2017), and the potentially serious effect of high-density populations of the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata.
Conservation
This species 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). It is present in the Réserve de Nature Sauvage du Massif de l’Aoupinié. No conservation management is currently being undertaken.
Bibliography
Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.
Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 08 : Orchidaceae.
Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Experts
Assessor(s): Laudereau, C., Butin, J., Antheaume, C., Cazé, H., Cazé, H., Fleurot, D., Garnier, D., Gâteblé, G., Maura, J.
Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.
Facilitator(s): Tanguy, V., Maura, J.