This species is listed as Least Concern because it is very widespread, and is generally abundant wherever it occurs. In addition, it is present in many protected areas.

Geographical area

This species is endemic to New Caledonia. Marmorosphax tricolor is found throughout Grande Terre with the exception of the far northwest (northernmost location in the west is the Koniambo massif and in the east is Mount Mandjélia). It occurs at elevations of up to 1,000 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 14,055 km², and the area of occupancy at 596 km².

Population

There are no quantitative data on population size and trends for this species but it can occur at very high population densities in favourable habitats. It is presumed to have suffered a substantial reduction in area of occupancy and hence total population size as a result of the past widespread clearance of closed forest habitat for settlement, agriculture, afforestation and mining. Substantial areas of habitat have also been lost as a consequence of repeated wildfires. These impacts are ongoing.

Habitat

This species inhabits closed humid forests at low to mid-elevations, montane forest and high-elevation maquis shrublands. It is diurno-nocturnal, cryptozoic; terrestrial. It shelters beneath logs, rocks and deep leaf litter, and in soil crevices. Usually, it forages in cover or in the open in low-light situations.

Threats

The greatest threats to this species are further loss, fragmentation and degradation of closed forest habitat. The likely cause of this varies across the species' range and with elevation, but includes clearance for agriculture, mining, logging and afforestation, and damage from wildfires to forest margins. These impacts will be greatest on isolated forest remnants and can, in some cases, be expected to lead to local extirpation of skinks. The effect of fire on high elevation humid maquis shrublands is also a threat. Introduced mammals (rodents, cats and pigs) are potential predators; and high-density populations of introduced ungulates (deer and pigs) threaten habitat quality, particularly by damaging the litter layer and disrupting cover (such as rocks and logs). The introduced ant Wasmannia auropunctata is expected to have an adverse impact in low to mid-elevation forest but this likely to be lower than on other lizard species.

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 most, if not all, humid forest reserves on Grande Terre. No specific conservation management is currently being undertaken for this species.

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): 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.