Lioscincus steindachneri is listed as Endangered because it has a restricted distribution, is known from four locations, and there is continuing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat. At two locations, Aoupinié and Néoua on the central ranges, the species appears to be restricted to riparian habitat. At the Néoua location the forest is becoming increasingly fragmented; at the Aoupinié location the population is heavily impacted by siltation and weed invasion in the stream beds (recent surveys have failed to find the species at sites of previous collection). This species remains relatively secure at the Panié massif, which is the largest subpopulation and the most extensive area of habitat, but even there, forest clearance and wildfires are encroaching from the lower slopes. It faces ongoing threats from invasive species at all locations.

Geographical area

This species is endemic to Province Nord, New Caledonia. It is known from just seven sites in four localities in the mountain ranges of central and northeastern Grande Terre, from the Ignambi forest to the Néhoua. It occurs at elevations between 200 and 1,110 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 781 km² and the area of occupancy at 40 km².

Population

There is no information on population size and trends for this species. It is expected that there has been a reduction in population size and extent resulting from past destruction of mid-elevation forests from clearance for agriculture and logging. This species can be locally common in good habitat.

Habitat

This species inhabits mid-elevation closed forest and is almost invariably associated with watercourses. It is diurnal, terrestrial and cryptozoic. It shelters beneath stream-side stones and in debris dams and leaf-packs. It is not known where and when it forages.

Threats

The main threats to this species are from further destruction of closed forest habitat along streams from logging, and degradation of stream bed habitats by siltation arising from forest destruction within the catchment or forest degradation from high-density deer and pig populations. Pigs are also likely to lead to damage in stream beds from constantly turning cover (leaf debris and stones). Predation by introduced mammals such as rodents (Thibault 2017) and cats (Palmas 2017) is a threat.

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 Réserve de Nature Sauvage du Mt Panié. No conservation management is currently being undertaken but this species may potentially benefit from proposed predator control in the La Guèn catchment on Mt Panié.

Bibliography

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.

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.

Experts

Assessor(s): Butin, J., Laudereau, C., Amice, R., Fleurot, D., Frayssinet, I., Garnier, D., Letocart, D., Letocart, I.

Reviewer(s): Tanguy, V.

Contributor(s): Faria, E.

Facilitator(s): Chanfreau, S.