Kanakysaurus viviparus is listed as Endangered because it is restricted to four locations in New Caledonia with an extent of occurrence (EOO) estimated at 485 km² and an area of occupancy (AOO) at 44 km². It has a restricted distribution and is exposed to a high threat from mining at two locations, high threat from invasive species at a third, and some potential risk from mining at the remaining (Iles Belep). On the islands, its proximity to human habitation and fire is potentially a threat. Ongoing threats from invasive species exist at all locations.

Geographical area

This species is endemic to Province Nord, New Caledonia. It is known from four localities: three in the far north of Grande Terre (the Poum and Dôme de Tiébaghi massifs, and Rivière Nehoué), and one from the Iles Belep (both Ile Art and Ile Pott). It occurs at elevations of up to 500 m. The extent of occurrence is estimated at 485 km² and the area of occupancy at 44 km².

Population

There are no quantitative data on population size and trends for this species, but it is moderately abundant at some sites. It is expected to have undergone a substantial reduction in area of occupancy and total population size as a result of the past widespread clearance of closed forest habitat for agriculture and mining. Substantial areas of habitat have also been lost as a consequence of repeated wildfires. These impacts are ongoing.

Habitat

This species inhabits supralittoral vegetation, gallery forest, low elevation closed forest and maquis shrubland on rocky cuirasses surfaces. This species is diurno-nocturnal, cryptozoic, and terrestrial. It shelters beneath logs, rocks and deep within boulder beds and forages in cover or in the open at night.

Threats

The greatest threat to this species is the loss of habitat as a consequence of the on-going mining industry on the Poum (plans to remove entire top of plateau) and Dôme de Tiébaghi (plans to remove most of the plateau) massifs. Mining may affect the Iles Belep populations in the future as they are also on ultramafic cuirasse surfaces. Continued loss of habitat to wildfires is also a high risk. Introduced mammals (rodents, cats and pigs) are potential predators. A recent study (Thibault et al, 2017) found remains of Kanakasaurus viviparus in rodents stomachs. On Grande Terre the high-density populations of introduced ungulates (deer and pigs, and also livestock at Rivière Nehoué) threaten habitat quality, particularly by damaging the litter layer and disrupting cover such as rocks and logs (Jourdan et al., 2014). Wasmannia auropunctata is expected to have an adverse impact in low to mid-elevation forest as this invasive ant is known to decimate lizard populations (Jourdan et al. 2001).

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). One of the locations where Kanakysaurus viviparus occurs (Rivière Nehoué) is administered as a recreation reserve but it receives high human use. Two areas on the upper part of Dôme de Tiébaghi are unofficially set aside as botanical reserves but to date this species has not been recorded within them. No conservation management is currently being undertaken. This species is in need of further conservation areas. Research is needed to establish population size and trends.

Bibliography

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

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

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.

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., Brescia, F. and Vidal, E. 2014. Programme R_Mines.Impact des espèces invasives sur les communautés de reptiles des massifs miniers.

Sadlier, R.A., Smith, S.A., Whitaker, A.H. and Bauer, A.M. 2009. A new live-bearing species of scincid lizard (Reptilia: Scincidae) from New Caledonia, southwest Pacific. Pacific Science(63) , p.123–136.

Sadlier, R.A., Smith, S.A, Bauer, A.M. and Whitaker, A.H. 2004. A new genus and species of live-bearing scincid lizard (Reptilia: Scincidae) from New Caledonia. Journal of herpetology(38) , p.320-330.

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