Although Caesoris novaecaledoniae has been recorded from just nine locations, several of which are directly threatened by development, the fact these known locations include widely different types of habitat and cover a large part of Grande Terre means this species is expected to occur much more widely. It has been found in some large areas of habitat and extensive areas of potential habitat exist. Hence, it is listed as Least Concern.

Geographical area

This species is endemic to New Caledonia. It is known from eight widespread locations on Grande Terre in the north and La Foa in the south and it is also present in Belep islands. It likely occurs much more widely given presence in different habitat types. It can be found at elevations up to 400 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 9,978 km² and the area of occupancy at 44 km² (likely to be an underestimate).

Population

There is no information on population size and trends for this species but is presumed to have suffered a substantial reduction in population size and extent in the past from the loss of lowland forest habitat from clearance for agriculture, mining and logging, and from the effects of wildfires.

Habitat

This species has been recorded from supralittoral vegetation, low and mid-elevation closed forest, sclerophyll forest and vinelands. It is diurnal and arboreal, spending the night sleeping on the outer twigs of trees and presumably foraging in the canopy by day.

Threats

The greatest threat to Caesoris novaecaledoniae is further loss or degradation of its habitat through clearance for agriculture and mining. This is a particular problem on Dôme de Tiébaghi where expansion of the nickel mine will result in habitat removal; at Gouaro-Déva where habitat is at risk to changed farm management and tourist development; and possibly on Mt Aoupinié from logging. The habitat is also at risk from wildfires and damage from introduced ungulates (deer and pigs). The introduced ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, is another potentially serious threat as it is known to decimate lizard populations (Jourdan et al. 2000, 2001). Predation by introduced mammals (rodents and cats) may also be an issue (Palmas 2017, Thibault 2017).

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

Thibault, M., Brescia, F., Vidal, E. and Jourdan, H. 2017. Invasive rodents, an overlooked threat for skinks in a tropical island hotspot of biodiversity. New Zealand Ecological Society(41) , p.74-83.

Bauer, A.M. and Sadlier, R.A. 2000. The Herpetofauna of New Caledonia.

IUCN 2021. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2021-2.

Uetz, P. (ed.) 2017. The Reptile Database.

Sadlier, R.A., Bauer, A.M., Shea, G.M. and Smith, S.A. 2015. Taxonomic resolution to the problem of polyphyly in the New Caledonian scincid lizard genus Lioscincus (Squamata: Scincidae). Records of the Australian Museum(67) , p.207-224.

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.

Palmas, P., Jourdan, H., Rigault, F., Debar, L., De Meringo, H., Bourguet, E., Mathivet, M., Lee, M., Adjouhgniope, R., Papillon, Y. and Bonnaud, E. 2017. Feral cats threaten the outstanding endemic fauna of the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot. Biological Conservation(214) , p.250-259.

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): Lietar, J., Warimavute, G., Tanguy, V.