Taxonomy
Nannoscincus humectus
Common name :
Le scinque nain de Forêt Plate
Forêt Plate Dwarf Skink Red List Status -
Endangered (EN) , assessed in 11/12/2017Protected species -
in Southern Province , in Northern ProvinceThis species is listed as Endangered because it has a restricted distribution with an estimation of only three locations and there is a continuing decline estimated in its area of occupancy, extent and quality of its habitat and number of mature individuals due to a variety of threats.
Geographical area
This species is endemic to Province Nord, New Caledonia. It is known from three locations from Pouembout to Kaala-Gomen area. It occurs at elevations between 500 and 700 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 56 km² and the area of occupancy at 12 km².
Population
There is no information on population size and trends for this species. It is known from two subpopulations of which the larger (Oua Tilou) is presumed to have suffered a reduction in area of occupancy from the loss of closed forest habitat at low-elevation to mid-elevations through clearance for agriculture, logging and wildfires. This species is still common at the other subpopulation where it has been found (Forêt Plate). Recent observations on the Kaala massif need to be confirmed. All populations are at risk to invasive species.
Habitat
This species inhabits closed humid forest. It is cryptozoic, semi-fossorial; terrestrial. It shelters beneath logs and stones and forages through leaf litter.
Threats
Nannoscincus humectus is at risk to further habitat loss arising from habitat clearance and damage to forest margins from wildfires in the adjacent savanna. It is also threatened by habitat degradation by introduced ungulates (deer and pigs), leading to lower humidity, and from pigs disturbing the litter layer and cover. Infestations of the introduced ant Wasmannia auropunctata are also expected to be an issue as it is known to decimate lizard populations (Jourdan et al. 2000, 2001). Predation by rodents (Thibault 2017) may be a risk.
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 not present in any reserve and no conservation management is currently being undertaken.
Bibliography
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.
Hallé N.; Aubréville A.; Leroy J. F.; 1977. Flore de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et dépendances. Volume 08 : Orchidaceae.
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.